|
|
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:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "with your full names" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "hundred thousand united states 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)
- "compensationcenter@live.co.uk" (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: COMPENSATION PAYMENT CENTER <mrsobinnajoy@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 3 Sep 2014 10:10:38 +0100
Subject: REF/PAYMENTS CODE: 82509
How are you today? Hope all is well with you and family? You may not
understand why this mail came to you.I am Mrs.Obinna Joya delegate from the
United Nations and a supervisor. In regards to the recent meeting between
the United Nations and the Nigeria in collaboration with United States
Government to restore the dignity and Economy of the Nations and also based
on the agreement with the World Bank Assistance to help and make the world
a better place for all with the sole aim of abolishing poverty to improve
the poor standard of living.
We have been having series of meetings for the past three months which
ended 1st of July 2014 This email is to inform those people that have lost
their properties in the earthquakes and tsunami and people that have been
scammed in any part of the world, in other words people that have lost
their money through the internet as a result of dealing with fraudster, the
UNITED NATIONS have agreed and decided to compensate those that have lost
their money to fraudsters and those who have lost their properties in the
earthquakes and tsunami and also to improve the standard of living to those
who are poor with the sum of US$I,500,000.00 (One Million Five Hundred
Thousand United States Dollars Only ).
Therefore if you fall in any of these three category kindly contact us with
your full names, address and contact number for further actions and you can
also reach me on my contact number.
Mrs.Obinna Joy
Position: United Nations compensation center supervisor west Africa.
Contact Email: compensationcenter@live.co.uk
Goodluck and kind regards,
Signed By:
Mr. Ban Ki-Moon
Secretary (UNITED NATIONS).
UN making the world a better place.
|
Anti-fraud resources:
