|
|
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:
- "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "million united states dollars" (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)
- "u.k " (this email uses bad English)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Rev.Walter Williams" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <project-director@administrativos.com>
Date: Tue, 26 Jul 2011 18:56:25 -0600
Subject: Bruggies Petroleum Corporation (U.K)
I’m the director in the project and planning department of the Bruggies - U.K a Petroleum Corporation and Special Adviser to the President of Bruggies Cables on Petroleum Matters. I head a seven man Tenders Board Committee in charge of contract award and Payment approvals.
There were series of contracts executed by a consortium of Multinationals in the oil industry in favor of the (Bruggies) among which were:
1) The expansion of Pipeline network within the Gulf Region for crude oil and downstream products distribution and subsequent evacuation - US$2 Billion.
2) Contract for Turn around Maintenance (TAM) of various Refineries in the region.
3) The construction of Storage Tanks for Petroleum Product (Depots)-US$94 Million.
The original value of of these contracts were deliberately over invoiced In the sum of One Hundred and forty Million United States Dollars US$140,000,000.00) which has recently been approved and now ready To be transferred. However the companies that actually executed the aforementioned contract have been fully paid and the projects officially commissioned.
I am writing you so that YOU will assist us with a foreign bank account where we can pay the money into. We have prepared every documentation that will assist you or your company as contractor that execute a contract with our ministry.
The money will be released to your account within short period of days after we have filed in all your information’s which you will provide. I will like you to acknowledge the receipt of this e-mail as soon as possible via my contacts above with the following information’s:
1) Your Full Name
2) Home / Office Address
3) Contact Phone Number
4) Bank Account Information
5) Occupation
6) Age/Sex
7) A Scan Copy of your Identity
8) E-mail
Regards
Rev. Walter Williams
|
Anti-fraud resources:
