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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:
- 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:
- "million british pounds" (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)
- "can i completely trust you?" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "your humble assistance" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "dormant account" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
- 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.
- +447045708810 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
- 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.
- georgeculmer2014@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr.George Culmer" <investconsult@clarofree.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: georgeculmer2014@gmail.com
Date: Thu, 13 Feb 2014 12:17:36 -0500
Subject: CAN U BE TRUSTED IN THIS TRANSACTION!!
Hello Partner..
It is my honor and with a heart deep of humiliation and seeking good
consolation that I write to you.I am Mr George Culmer from London.I am
an account officer to Mr. Rafik Hariri, Born in Lebanon in 1944, The
late Rafik Hariri was a Lebanese self-made billionaire and business
tycoon, and was five times Prime Minister of Lebanon. You can view this
site for
confirmation.http://www.rhariri.com/general.aspx?pagecontent=biography
Mr. Rafik Hariri deposit £39,759 000.00million British Pounds in a bank
here in London and I want to invest this money in your country, The need
to move out this money arose when the Prime Minister said that some of
the money held in dormant accounts would be used to fund youth and
community projects for you can confirm this in the website
below.http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/4017381.stm
I am in a sincere desire of your humble assistance in this regard. Now
permit me to ask these few questions:-
(1) Can I completely trust you?
(2) I am ready to offer you 50% of this (£39,759 000.00) I hope it is
acceptable by you?
Please note that this transaction is absolutely risk-free on both sides
since we are using our positions to facilitate it. All logistics has
been carefully mapped out for a hitch free transaction. Send your
response to my e-mail address:(georgeculmer2014@gmail.com) and include
your private tel/fax number for ease of communication. Consider this and
get back as soon as possible for more details.
Thank you so much.
Mr George Culmer
Cell No: +44-7045708810
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