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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:
- 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:
- "money laundering" ("anti-terrorist", "anti-money laundering" or "drug-free" certificates are a common way for criminals in fake lottery scams and other Advance Fee scams to get you to send money to them. There are no such certificates in the real banking world. )
- "utmost confidentiality" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "observe utmost confidentiality" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "transaction is risk free" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
- 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.
- mrkaytekong@yahoo.com.hk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: =?utf-8?Q?=D0=A2=D0=B5=D1=81=D1=82=D0=BE=D0=B2=D1=8B=D0=B9_=D0=BF?=
=?utf-8?Q?=D0=BE=D0=BB=D1=8C=D0=B7=D0=BE=D0=B2=D0=B0=D1=82=D0=B5?=
=?utf-8?Q?=D0=BB=D1=8C?= <mrkaytekong@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: mrkayt@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Sat, 14 Jul 2012 01:51:58 +0300
Subject: NOTE INFORMATION
Attention,
I am Mr kay Tek Ong from netherlands a book keeper to Chief James O. Ibori (former Governor of oil rich Delta State in Nigeria for 8years), I wish to seek on behalf for your partnership in the transfer of funds owned by Chief James Ibori who was recently convicted and jailed by a London court for corruption charges. I am seeking your help to stand-in as the owner of the fund deposited in a vault house in building a Tourist Hotel or Real Estate or any profitable investment in your country with the fund. The fund is currently deposited in a vault house which I will release details to you if you accept to partner with me. As Chief James Ibori's doucments keeper , I have the certificate of deposit for the claim and released from the vault house in your favor.
My apologies if this does not meet your working ethics. Chief James O. Ibori was arrested by the Interpol in Dubai for Money Laundering and extradited to London where his trial took place. We need to hurriedly transfer this fund as it has not been discovered by the authorities. I need you as a foreigner to assist me in claiming the funds and investing the said funds in any profitable ventures you are more conversant with and assuming ownership until expiration of a period that will be signed in an agreement. While you assume chairmanship of the company, profits will be shared in an agreed format that will be negotiated.
Please click for your perusal...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8680569.stm
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-13102655
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-17739388
If you agree to partner with me on this deal, do send the below stated information required to effect the legal change of fund ownership in your favor.
1. Your full names
2. Complete contact address(not postal address)
3. Your mobile/telephone/fax number
4. Your date of birth
5) Your occupation
You should observe utmost confidentiality and be rest assured that this transaction is risk free. I shall give you more information upon receiving your response to my private email : (mrkaytekong@yahoo.com.hk)
Regards,
Mr kay Tek Ong
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