|
|
joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
|
|
"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam
The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.
Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.
Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!
Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.
Click here to report a problem with this page.
Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:
- This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "transfer of your funds" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- ",000,000" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "00,000.00" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "power of attorney" (with your bank details and a power of attorney form criminals sometimes empty bank accounts)
- "central bank of nigeria" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "abuja" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
- This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- pslscbngovv@aol.com (AOL; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "SPECIAL AGENT HENRY SHAWN" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <specialhshawn@live.com>
Date: Wed, 28 Jul 2010 06:21:02 -0700
Subject: FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION>>>> INVESTIGATION REPORT?
INVESTIGATION REPORT / PAYMENT NOTIFICATION FROM CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA
ATTN:
We received a notification from the Central bank of Nigerian that they have issued a hold on the transfer of your funds $5 MILLION USD ($5,000,000.00) due to the fact that someone who claim to be a family member (Mr. Frank Moss) and a next of kin to all your assets showed up at the central bank office in Abuja claiming that you have issued a power of Attorney for him to pick up your funds at the bank headquarters.
They contact the FBI to note if this is true and why have you refused to comply with directives on claiming your funds. The new central bank governor is willing to issue the payment out as soon as they get verification from you if truly you sent someone to make the claims for you.
You can get back to the central bank representative via email or phone through the below information.
Prof.Sanusi Lamido Sanusi
Central Bank Governor
Email: pslscbngovv@aol.com
Phone: +2348029063949
Do get back to the bank Representative, immediately as they await your response in this matter before making payment to a wrong recipient. Do get in touch with me if you have any further questions. I have attached a scanned copy of the international passport provided by Mr. Frank at the Central Bank Headquarters in Abuja.
Special Agent Henry Shawn
FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
SEATTLE DISTRICT
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
|
Anti-fraud resources:
