|
|
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:
- "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)
- "you are advise to" (this email uses bad English)
- "peterloon@live.co.uk" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- 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.
- +447045795051 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
Fraud email example:
From: "Microsoft Consumer Awards" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <peterloon@live.co.uk>
Date: Mon, 4 Jul 2011 16:15:21 +0100
Subject: Data File Number: F1267-2010!!!
Microsoft Consumer Awards
Building 3 Microsoft Campus
Thames Valley Park Reading,
Berkshire RG6 1WG
United Kingdom.
Data File Number: F1267-2010
Winning No:YMMW/877/798/2011
Email Ref No:699/33/2010
You have been awarded the sum of Five Hundred Thousand Pounds Sterling
(GBP500,000.00), by the Association of Email Service Providers in
conjunction with Microsoft Windows Promotion.You are advise to contact the
Claims
Administrator
with the below informations.
===================================
CONTACT CLAIMS ADMINISTRATOR
===================================
NAME: Mr Peter Loon
Email: peterloon@live.co.uk
Phone Number: +447045795051
Fill the below:
1. Full Name:_____________________
2. Address:_____________________
3. Nationality:___________Sex:________
4. Age:________Date of Birth:___________
5. Occupation:_____________________
6. Cell Phone:___________Fax:___________
7. State of Origin:_________Country:_______
Secretary,
Kelvin Moore
Microsoft Consumer Awards.
© 2011 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
|
Anti-fraud resources:
