|
|
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:
- "very confidential" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "you are advice to " (this email uses bad English)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- 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: James Bullock <ksknms@yahoo.pt>
Reply-To: James Bullock <bullockjames012@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 2 Nov 2014 23:36:15 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: Please call me for your funds
 DEAR ,
THIS EMAIL IS SENT TO YOU IN RESPECT OF YOUR $4.5 MILLION UNITED STATEÂ
DOLLARS UNCLAIMED FUND WHICH HAS BEEN LYING IN THE BANK FOR THE PASTÂ
YEARS. WE HAVE BEEN INSTRUCTED BY THE CONCERN AUTHORITY TO HAVE YOURÂ
FUND RELEASE PROCESS COMPLETED OTHERWISE THE FUND WILL BE DECLAREDÂ
UNSERVICEALBE THAT IS WHY I HAVE DECIDED TO CONTACT YOU TO KNOW THEÂ
REASON WHY YOU HAVEN'T LAID CLAIM TO YOUR FUND. WE HAVE SENT COUPLESÂ
OF EMAILS TO YOU WITHOUT GETTING ANY REPLY FROM YOU. OUR BANK IS READYÂ
AND WILLING TO RELEASE YOUR FUND IMMEDIATELY BECAUSE THE WORLD BANK,Â
THE UNITED NATION(UN) INCLUDING THE UNITED STATE GOVERNMENT HAVEÂ
SUCCESSFULLY PASSED A MANDATE TO ALL AFRICAN BANKS TO BOOST THISÂ
EXERCISE OF CLEARING ALL FOREIGN DEBTS OWED TO FOREIGNERS AND OTHERÂ
INDIVIDUALS.
YOU SHOULD ADVISE US ON HOW YOU WANT TO RECEIVE YOUR PAYMENT. WE HAVEÂ
ABOUT TWO (2) METHODS OF PAYMENT WHICH ARE BY.
1. DIRECT BANK TO BANK WIRE TRANSFER. (You shall be requested toÂ
forward your current bank account co-ordinates to receive your funds).
2. ISSUING YOU AN ATM CARD. (We will be issuing you a custom pin basedÂ
ATM card which you shall use to withdraw your fund in any ATM machineÂ
in your country but the maximum to withdraw is One Hundred and FiftyÂ
Thousand United State Dollars per day).
TO START PROCESSING THE RELEASE OF YOUR FUND, YOU ARE ADVISED TOÂ
CHOOSE ONE PAYMENT METHOD OUT OF THE TWO ABOVE LISTED OPTIONS.
NOTE: YOU ARE ADVICE TO KEEP/TREAT THIS MASSAGE VERY CONFIDENTIAL ANDÂ
ALSO CEASE FURTHER COMMUNICATION WITH ANYBODY REGARDING THISÂ
TRANSACTION TO AVOID COMPLICATION.
GET BACK TO ME WITH THE FOLLOWING DETAILS FOR YOUR FUNDS TO BE ALLOCATED TO YOU.
1. YOUR FULL NAMEÂ 2. YOUR CONTACT ADDRESS3. YOUR OCCUPATION / POSITION & AGE4. YOUR MOBILE AND HOUSE TELEPHONE NUMBER
YOURS SINCERELYJAMES BULLOCKMOBILE NUMBER : +229 688 67 261PLEASE CALL FOR FURTHER COMMUNICATIONS.COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN PAYMENTRESOLUTION PANEL ON CONTRACT PAYMENT
|
Anti-fraud resources:
