|
|
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:
- 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:
- "hundred thousand us dollars" (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)
- ",500,000" (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)
- "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 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.
- davismiller298@126.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr Robert Ferguson" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <davismiller298@126.com>
Date: Sat, 7 Dec 2013 22:16:23 +0300
Subject: INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND {IMF} ATM 7712
International Reconciliation and Logistics Vault
OFFICE OF RECONCILIATION AND LOGISTICS VAULTS,
INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND {IMF}
We are pleased to inform you that your email address has won an Award in the United Nations computer system ballot draw for the years ended 2013.
You are to receive the sum of US$ 2,500,000.00 {two Million Five Hundred Thousand US Dollars} through the Office Of Reconcilation And Logistics Vaults Unit Of The International Monetary Fund{IMF}.
Awards must be claimed by the email owner ONLY, there by you are to get back to Agent Davis Miller via email address: davismiller298@126.com
You are to furnish him with the following informations in other for us to verify your provided information.
Full Name:
Home Address:
Phone No:
Nearest Airport:
Please do not reply if you are NOT the owner of this email address.
Congratulations ONCE MORE.
Mr Robert Ferguson
International Reconciliation and Logistics Vaults
INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND {IMF}
|
Anti-fraud resources: