|
|
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:
- "swift card payment center" (this phrase is often used in the ATM card payment scam)
- "chief auditor" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "atmcardoffice11@aol.com" (this email address looks like addresses used in "ATM SWIFT card" scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- 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.
- atmcardoffice11@aol.com (AOL; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "JOHNSON E IBHE" <johnsonibeh@gmail.com>
Reply-To: <atmcardoffice11@aol.com>
Date: Fri, 10 Sep 2010 01:13:12 -0700
Subject: YOUR PAYMENT
Sir/Madam,
This is to officially inform you that we have verified your payment file and found out that you have not received your payment till date.
You are hereby informed that your payment will be made to you through OUR SWIFT CARD PAYMENT CENTER ASIA PACIFIC, ATM CARD.
We need you to reconfirm this following information to enable us crosscheck with the records handed to us to avoid paying a wrong person.
{1} your full name
{2} your full address
{3} you direct telephone number.
{4} your full ammount
This information should be sent to the undermentioned who has been empowered and mandated by the presidency to ensure the release of your payment by ATM CARD:
DR. GOODLUCK PAUL
INTEGRATED PAYMENT DEPARTMENT
EMAIL:atmcardoffice11@aol.com
Upon the receipt of this information,you shall be further adviced on how to receive your payment by ATM CARD.
Regards.
MR .JOHNSON IBEH
FOR:
CHIEF AUDITOR TO THE PRESIDENT
FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA
|
Anti-fraud resources:
