|
|
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.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "00,000.00" (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 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: "Camelot UK Lotteries Limited" <uklotto@camelot.co.uk>
Reply-To: fiduciaryclaims@live.com
Date: Mon, 3 Dec 2012 17:56:14 +0500 (TJT)
Subject: Lotto Winner
UK National Lotto
Camelot UK Lotteries Limited
Ref: UKNL/9411X/05
Batch: 026/05/WY83
This Message is to inform you that your email have been selected for the
reward of £100,000.00 (One Hundred Thousand Pounds Sterling), in the
ongoing UK Lotto X-Mas promo award. email ballot draw held in Norwich
where 50 emails were selected at random out of 24 Million emails as part
of its bailout plan to assist individuals and companies in this recent
Global Economic melt down.
For processing and collection of your funds, £100,000.00 (One Hundred
Thousand Pounds Sterling). You are to contact The Human Resource manager:
Dr Stephen Webster with the below details
Name: Dr Stephen Webster
Email: fiduciaryclaims@live.com
Tell: +44 (0) 704 572 6473
Dr. Robert Miller
Copyright ©UK National Lotto. All Rights Reserved.
|
Anti-fraud resources:
