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joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
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"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.
- 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 fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "clearing fee" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "the consignment" (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)
- "consignment " (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)
- "contact me immediately" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "dear beneficiary," (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
- "diplomatic delivery" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "lagos" (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.
- 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.
- revkenremittance@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "NATIONAL VAULT" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <revkenremittance@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 17 May 2011 06:56:44 -0700
Subject: URGENT DIPLOMATIC PAYMENT
National Vault Services
Deposit Department
Federal Secreteriat
Ikoyi-Lagos
Dear Beneficiary,
This is to inform you that arrangements have been concluded regarding the shipment of your consignment of funds to your country. I chose to conclude it and make sure it is off already before contacting you to avoid any hitch. I found out that this consignment has been lying here because of non-payment of shipment fees.
This is why I decided to use my connections as the Shipment officer in charge of the National Security warehouse. (This is where all the abandoned consignments in Nigeria are kept at the orders of the Government of Nigeria).
The consignment left Lagos Nigeria yesterday night en-route your country via London. It is a metal box, silver in colour with a weight of about 150kg, the box is declared as containing diplomatic /inheritance documents only. The name of the Courier Company based in London is with-held now for security reasons but will be given to you when we establish stable communication.also give me your current address where you may wish the consignment to be delivered to you and attached copy of your Drivers Lisence or internationsl pass-port for identification.
Contact me immediately you receive this email to enable me give you further information on the movement of the consignment and when it is expected to arrive your country.
I am doing this for you because I studied your file and discovered that you have paid a lot of money before abandoning this consignment and I believe you will compensate me well when you receive the consignment.
Note: I know the content of the Box because I could see the amount you are being owned by the Federal Government. This is why I decided to get involved. You must also know that this arrangement do not concern all the people you were dealing with in Nigeria before today as this consignment/Payment has been surrendered to the Government. Hence my involvement
Also Note that Every financial institution in the world today whom operate a Diplomatic Delivery Payment System definitely has a charge for such efficient service because the principles for the charges are in line with the Companies and Allied Matters Act which guides all financial institution.
In the Year 2010, Mr. Edward Bayer of USA lost his huge Funds because he failed to Pay for the Clearance Charge of his consingment and that prompted The Federal Government of Nigeria to confiscate his Funds.
Kindly take note that you have to off-set the Clearing Fee before for the Delivery to be completed This Letter enunciates all that you ought to do in order to Receive your consignment at your door step.
The TRUTH is what we stand for. TEL: +234-8028166208
I am awaiting your call or emaiL:revkenremittance@gmail.com
Yours sincerely,
Ken Peters
Operations Manager
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