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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:
- "you are advice to " (this email uses bad English)
- "high court" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "federal high court" (This court is often mentioned in '419' scams to give the victim a reason why he/she should send thousands of dollars to the scammers. A 'Federal High Court' exists in Germany and Nigeria, but not in other countries, such as the UK, Spain, Netherlands, Senegal, Benin, South Africa or other countries where fake lawyers in scams often claim to be based. )
- "(ecowas)" (the name of a person or institution often appearing 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: "Dr Mark White" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <dhlcompany318@yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 10 Jul 2013 18:04:52 +0100
Subject: your CERTIFIED BANK DRAFT is ready contact DHL COURIER now
Attn:,
I want to acknowledge you that after the last board meeting yesterday the board
finally succeeded in getting your package worth?s of $2.5million out of
(ECOWAS) Economic Community of West African States department with the help of
Mr. James George Attorney General of Federal High Court of Justice Benin
Republic which act as your foreign Attorney representative here in Benin
Republic.
So you are advice to reconfirm your full delivery information to the DIRECTOR
and ask him to send you your CERTIFIED BANK DRAFT to your address which you
will send to him now:
+229-993-968-89
Mr.Kenneth Egoh
(1)Your Full Name: =============
(2)Mobile Phone Number: ======
(3)Current Home Address: ==== ====
(4)Fax Number: ================
(5)Country: ====================
(6)City: ======================
(7)P.O Box : ==============
(8)Passport/Drivers license:======
SHIPMENT CODE GJK72DWQ PACKAGE REGISTERED CODE NO OVX950. SECURITY CODE
EYTU/3055WEZ/263/ TRANSACTION CODE 7126/JLFS/7138/17305/ CERTIFICATE DEPOSIT
CODE MCBS/PQLE/2-6/41
SINCERELY
Dr. Mark White
The Director of MINISTRY OF FINANCE Benin Republic.
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Anti-fraud resources: