|
|
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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
- This email message is a fake lottery scam. Consider the following facts about real lotteries:
- They don't notify winners by email.
- You can't win without first buying a lottery ticket.
- They don't randomly select email addresses to award prizes to.
- They don't use free email accounts (Yahoo, Hotmail, etc) to communicate with you.
- They don't tell you to call a mobile phone number.
- They don't tell you to keep your winnings secret.
- They will never ask a winner to pay any fees to receive a prize!
- 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.
- quincysegurossa@consultant.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Congratulations!!" <quincysegurossa@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 28 Feb 2011 17:20:11 +0100
Subject: Congratulations!!
INTERNATIONAL LOTTERY BOARD S.L:
AVDA CABALLERO MOTE nº 20
08830 BARCELONA SPAIN
FILE REF: ESP/2551204/11
BATCH NO: UAC/14080/PT
INSURANCE: RHC/231282/744/11
Dear Lucky Winner,
On behalf of the EURO-MILLION LOTTERY PROMOTION PROGRAM, We wish to
Congratulate you over your winning in the following official
publication results of the E-mail electronic online Sweepstakes
organized by EURO-MILLION ESPANA, in conjunction with the Foundation
for the Promotion of Software Products, (F.P.S.) held in Spain and
your email address emerged as one of the online Winning emails in the
2nd Category and therefore you are entitled to a prize of 815.950.00Eur
(Eight Hundred and Fifteen Thousand Nine Hundred & Fifty Euros Only)
for your frequent use of e-mail/internet services.
On receipt of this notification, you are expected to have the
following information's sent your award claims agent Anna Sanchez of
the QUINCY SEGUROS S.A through e-mail or by fax:
Tel : + 34 656 388 322
Fax : + 34 966 260 289
e-mail : quincysegurossa@consultant.com
1. Name in Full : .....................................
2. Home Address : .................................
3.Tel Numbers : .....................................
4. Nationality : .......................................
5. Date of Birth : ....................................
Sincerely,
Dr. Deigo Lopez
President Sweep stake Co-coordinator
|
Anti-fraud resources: