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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:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "certified bank draft" (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.
Fraud email example:
From: veri dept <veri_dept_37@msn.com>
Reply-To: <verificationwire.dept@ymail.com>
Date: Sun, 27 May 2012 20:01:29 +0000
Subject: RELEASE OF YOUR OVERDUE PAYMENT
OFFFICE OF THE PAYMENT GENERAL FOR ALL CERTIFIED OVER DUE FUNDEMAIL ADDRESS:verificationwire.dept@ymail.comOFFICIAL DIRECT LINE :TEL/FAX : 00229-968-27-208 DATE : 26 MAY 2012. FROM THE DESK OF: GREG JOHN MOORE Attn:Beneficiarry, RELEASE OF YOUR OVERDUE PAYMENT This is the final payment section 2011/2012 after completing all the lists of contractors that was abondoned half way due to high fees and task inorder for them to forsake their fund. In line with the president order and west african monitory department observing this properly we dictated that it is remaining you as the only contractor unpaid.As there was a reverse united kingdom and other european world solidarity fund recieveval. Exploring our options for reducing our debt servicing policy to affordable and sustainable levels and president mark of reconciliation and image laundering exercise toward sanitizing the battered image of the nation abroad (World at large). The purpose of the writting you now is to investigate, verify and see to the immediate wire of your fund to your bank account now .As there is no upfront payment or fees of any kind. It is dictated that this is the medium many abnormalities happened in the Banking institutions where some top official of the apex Bank collaborate with imposters and abandon contractor half way with levies and taxes. You are only requested to provide us the below information which after all verified your overdue fund must be in your bank account without further delay. All the imposters medium to divert contractors fund had put to a stop which most of them are facing the trial according by the law of this respected nation Un international agreement/Ecowas.Therefore complete the below information and have your fund transfer immediately immediately this board complete our investigation. Name::::::: sex::::: Age:::::: Occupation:::: Home contact address::::: Direct telephone number:::::Copy of your identification either international passport or driving licence.... You are requested to send to us the above information for our verification for the immediate wire of your fund. This office is glad to inform you that your payment shall be made as soon as this information needed from you is submitted, either by telegraphic transfer or by international Certified Bank Draft or Atm card of your wish. It is clear that all foreigner contractors /inheritors /waiting to recieve their payment that is overdue, to be paid immediately hence all the modality relating to the release of your contract fund had been completed. You are advised to stop any further communication with your local representative(s) any officials (s) department of the CBB or any Government parastatal. This is to forestall new effort towards a diversion of your payment. GREG JOHN MOORECHAIRMAN OFFFICE OF THE PAYMENT GENERAL FOR ALL CERTIFIED OVER DUE FUND
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