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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:
- "escrow account with no beneficiary" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "million 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)
- "a reliable and reputable person to handle this" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "there are practically no risks involved" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: david william <williamdavid189@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 9 Jun 2014 02:37:18 -0700
Subject: CONFIDENTIAL REPLY!!!
STANDARD CHARTERED BANK OF GHANA,
ACCRA GHANA.
My Friend,
My name is William David .I am the regional manager of Standard Chartered
Bank of Ghana Takoradi branch in the western region of Ghana. I came to
know you in my Private Search for a reliable and reputable person to handle
this confidential transaction. I write you this proposal in good faith.
I have packaged a financial transaction that will benefit you and me, as
the regional manager of the Standard Chartered Bank it is my duty to send
in a financial report to my head office in the capital city Accra at the
end of each business year. On the course of 2013 business report.I
discovered that my branch in which I am the manager made ($3.5 million
Dollars) which my head office are not aware of and will never be
aware of it. I have placed this funds on what we call escrow account with
no beneficiary. As an officer of this bank I cannot be directly connected
to this money, so my aim of contacting you is to assist me receive this
money in your bank account and get 30% of the total funds as commission.
There are practically no risks involved, it will be a bank-to-bank transfer
and all I need from you is to stand and claim as the original depositor.I
need your information so that we can start the transfer.
your mobile number
your occupation
your bank Account
Best regards
William David.
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