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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:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "affidavit " (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "svc@anchorsecurities.biz" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "SCAM VICTIMS COMPENSATION" (may be fake)
Date: Thu, 16 Jan 2014 12:57:17 -0800
Subject: Is Mr. Albert Okafor authorized to receive your funds on your behalf?
ATTENTION:
Did you send Mr. Albert Okafor to pick up your ATM CARD on your behalf? He visited
our office yesterday with the story that you are not fine and had been admitted to the
psychiatric hospital. Please kindly re-confirm this news with a doctor's report to enable us
prepare an affidavit on your behalf and release the ATM card to him.
But if this information is false kindly get back to us immediately so we can apprehend him.
We advise that you also do the needful to make sure that ANCHOR SECURITY LTD dispatches
your NFIU/BHC SCAM VICTIMS COMPENSATION on or before Friday.
You are assured of the safety of your ATM CARD and availability of your funds and PLEASE be
advised that you should stop further contacts with all the fake government officials
online who in collaboration scammed you.
Kind Regards
JANET DUNN
svc@anchorsecurities.biz
Compensation Payments Administrators
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Anti-fraud resources: