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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:
- 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:
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
- 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.
- iplc33@yahoo.com (Yahoo; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr.Chris Ben Eze" <edwardade66@yahoo.com.ph>
Reply-To: iplc33@yahoo.com
Date: Sat, 12 Nov 2011 01:21:23 +0800 (SGT)
Subject: Re: Your Compasention Update !!!
Attention: My Dear
I have contacted my secretary to confirm if you have received the compensation draft cheque of US$750,000.000 (Seven Hundred and Fifty Thousand United State Dollars Only) which I issued in your name before taking off to Melbourne Australia where i am investing my own Share on the Fund i wanted you to help me Transfer to a Foreign Account earlier.
But he told me that he could not send it to you because of the excess Courier Charges.
Now I have called my bank to cancel any payment regards to the Draft Cheque and then authorized them to transfer the payment into an ATM VISA CARD in your name which they have done as confirmed by my Secretary yesterday.
As of now be informed that all charges has been paid and cancelled and the ATM Visa CARD is going to be in your name, but to RE-ACTIVATE the ATM Card you have to forward your current informations as requested below to the bank and the only money you will pay to the Bank is the sum US$79.00 for the ATM Card re-actification fee, then they will send you the ATM CARD for your immediate use.
Here are the informations you have to forward to the bank:
1. Your Full Names:______
2. Postal Addresss:_______
3. Direct Cell Numbers:_______
4. E-mail Address:________
5. Sex:_____
6. Age:_____
7. Occupation:________
8. Nationality:________
CONTACT PERSON: Sir/Dr.Erastus Akingbola
Chief Executive Officer Intercontinental Bank Plc
Lagos State., Nigeria.
E-mail: iplc33@yahoo.com
Direct Hotline: +234-706 55 77 417
Get back to me once you received the ATM VISA CARD Ok.
Thanks and God bless you.
Mr.Chris Ben Eze.
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