|
|
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.
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "DAVID JACKSON (FBI AGENT)" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <davis_jack_0073@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Sat, 18 Aug 2012 05:14:16 -0700
Subject: Our Ref: RTB /SNT/STB (PAYMENT) gjp
Our Ref: RTB /SNT/STB
To. Beneficiary .
Sir/Madam,
I am Special Agent David Jackson and I am here in Nigeria as an FBI delegate that has been delegated to investigate these fraudsters who are in the business of swindling Foreigners that has a business transaction in Nigeria . Please be informed that during my investigation, I got to find out that there is a huge sum of $10.5million that has been assigned to be paid out to some listed foreign individuals among which your name is included and this fraudsters are busy swindling you without any hope of receiving your fund.
NOTE: You are not suppose to pay that huge amount from the beginning before the release of your fund can commence depending on how you want the transfer made to you.
This is to inform you that it is only through a specified choice of every beneficiary will the fund be released to you. Reply accordingly and advise how you would wish to receive your payment immediately.
So far, we have made some arrested in respect of this delayed over due fund. I have a very limited time to stay in Nigeria here hence I advise you urgently respond to this message .
Please Note that I have attached my Identification to this email. Do not divulge any part of this information to any of those fraudsters that collected money from before now about this new development, to avoid jeopardizing our effort to carrying out this due payments and subsequently, effect a good arrested on the perpetrators of this criminal act.
Best Regard,
DAVID JACKSON
FEDERAL BUREAU INVESTIGATION NIGERIA DIVISION
INVESTIGATION ON ALL ONLINE WIRE TRANSFER
|
Anti-fraud resources:
