|
|
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.
- 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:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "million 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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- 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.
- drq56776@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Ahmed Sule" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <drq56776@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 6 Jan 2012 19:50:15 +1100
Subject: INFORMATION
Please contact me at drq56776@gmail.com
Confidencial Memo
>From The Desk OF
Dr Ahmed Sule
Federal Ministry OF Finance
06/10/2012
Dear Sir,Madam
OVERDUE CONTRACTS PAYMENTS WINDOW.
I am Dr Ahmed Sule Director of Operations Federal Ministry of Finance Federal Republic of Nigeria.
I and on behalf of the entire ministry do hereby sincerely apologise for delays in effecting your Payments. The delays were caused by errors in our Payment systems which has now been rectified..
I have been instructed by the Hon. Minister of finance to find out before the end of this month, why your contract fund valued US$12.2 Million Dollars has not been paid to you and why you did not notify us about appointing a PROXY to pick up your Payments before now.
However, these two men asking to be paid in your name should get further clarifications from you despite their claims that you were sick. In this regard, kindly reconfirm this information to us for proper identification, and give us your word on your PROXY .
Below are the informations that you are to reconfirm to my office immediately.
1) Your full name(s)
2) Your Home Phone Number and Your Cell phone numbers
3) Your Bank Name and Address
4) Your Account Name and Number and
5) A scanned copy of your international Passport or Driver's license.
Upon proper identification, The Hon. Minister of Finance will immediately sign the Approval form and refer you or your proxy to our Affiliate Bank where your Contract Fund has been deposited.
We anticipate your quick response before the end of this Payment Window.
Best Regards.
Dr Ahmed Sule
Please contact me at drq56776@gmail.com
|
Anti-fraud resources:
