|
|
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:
- 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:
- ",000,000" (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)
- "await your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "loan amount" (Beware of fake loan offers. Real lenders would not normally use free webmail addresses such as Yahoo, nor would they lend to individuals or small businesses in a different country from where they are based. Beware of mobile phones or redirector numbers!)
- "your loan " (Beware of fake loan offers. Real lenders would not normally use free webmail addresses such as Yahoo, nor would they lend to individuals or small businesses in a different country from where they are based. Beware of mobile phones or redirector numbers!)
- "botiwilliamsloancompany@gmail.com" (This email address looks like addresses used in fake loan scams. Be suspicious of any lender who uses a free webmail address or who is based in different country from yourself.)
- "botiwilliamsloancompany@gmail.com" (This email address looks like addresses used in fake loan scams. Be suspicious of any lender who uses a free webmail address or who is based in different country from yourself.)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- 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.
- botiwilliamsloancompany@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: MR Boti WILLIAMS hitel <okoediongodstime@gmail.com>
Reply-To: botiwilliamsloancompany@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 17 Nov 2014 21:31:07 +0100
Subject: XMAS LOAN OFFER
--
Do you need a loan for any reason? contact us now with an affordable
Loan Offer at 2% Interest Rate with a minimum of 2,000 USD and a
maximum of 50,000,000,00 USD and If interested should please contact
us at botiwilliamsloancompany@gmail.com for more info
You are required to fill and send us the following details so that we
can proceed with your loan transaction
BORROWERS INFORMATION
Your Name:
Country:
Gender:
Age:
Loan amount:
duration:
Monthly income:
Phone number:
Loan purpose:
Occupation:
You are to make sure all replies are to be sent to this company e-mail address:
botiwilliamsloancompany@gmail.com
Thanks, best regards as we await your urgent response
MR WILLIAMS SCOTT
CEO
|
Anti-fraud resources: