|
|
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.
- 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: "MS MARY WILLIAMS/MR.EDWARD CLIFF" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mrsmarywilliams0756@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Thu, 23 May 2013 23:26:58 +0100
Subject: Dear Beneficiary
Attn:Beneficiary.Sir/madam,
Your file appears in my desk two days ago Through IMF office that you
are among people approved to be paid half of their part payment of
Nine million, seven Hundred Dollars ($9.7Million USD. Signed by World
Bank/IMF Nigeria, On behalf of IMF.
If you are interested to claim your US$9.7M then i will advise you to
get back to us with your bank details so that all legal documents from
World Bank/IMF will be release to you immediately
Yours truly Mrs Mary Williams/ Edward cliff,
MS MARY WILLIAMS/MR.EDWARD CLIFF
DIRECTOR OF PAYMENT/ SPECIAL DUTIES WORLD BANK AUDITORS
MS MARY WILLIAMS/MR TEL+234-7065433254
MR.EDWARD CLIFF TEL +234-8033300488
|
Anti-fraud resources:
