|
|
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:
- 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:
- "cheque " (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: Chidi Okpala<evnonsj@gmail.com>
Reply-To: 7167001@gmail.com
Date: Tue, 08 Jul 2014 13:02:43 -0500
Subject: Re: I know that you might have forgotten
How are you? Hope all is well with you and your family.
I know that you might have forgotten about this your outstanding fund due to our mistake to have delayed the delivery up to this moment. I am writing to inform you that your file was found in our archives in our old central bank office building today and we discovered that your Cheque of US$450,000 have not been sent to you as it was instructed by our late boss Mrs. Mary Jones.
We are very sorry for the mistake and the delay, please bear with us because the fault is from our former secretary who did not complete the instruction given by our late Boss before she too resigned.
Please note that your Cheque have been converted into Master ATM Card to free it from Expiring. This is to tell you that the arrangement to deliver to you the US$450,000 in ATM CARD is concluded today.
Now your ATM card is well packaged with every legal documents to cover it from not having any problem with any Office Authority or with your Country’s Government and we have deposited your ATM Card with the conclusion to deliver it to your home as soon as you reply with you current information.
(1.) Your Full name:__________________
(2.) Your home Address:______________
(3.) Your current telephone number:______
(4.) A copy of your identification:________
(5.) Your age/sex:___________________
(6.) Your country:____________________
(7.) Your occupation:_________________
I wait for your reply as soon as you have received this mail as We will also guide you on how to make withdrawal daily and make sure you do not give out your email account password to any offices or persons to avoid lost of information.
Thanks and God Bless You.
Yours sincerely
The GO Team
Chidi Okpala
+2348101702577
---
----------------------------------------------------------
This e-mail is only for the above address. It may contain confidential or privileged information. If you are not an addressee you must not copy,distribute, disclose or use any of the information in it or any attachments.
-----------------------------------------------------------
---
This email is free from viruses and malware because avast! Antivirus protection is active.
http://www.avast.com
|
Anti-fraud resources:
