|
|
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:
- "to your nominated bank account" (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)
- "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- 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.
- 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.
- ocenicankk08014@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "JAMES MIKE" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <obank399@yahoo.fr>
Date: Fri, 26 Dec 2014 14:05:23 -0800
Subject: payment of USD$10.5M for you
ECO BANK
ECOBANK BUILDING 8TH FLOOR,
VICTORIA ISLAND, LAGOS-NIGERIA
Phone: +2348030977875
Our Ref: STB/IRD/SBX/021/14
IMMEDIATE CONTRACT PAYMENT.
Dear: ????? ??
This is to officially inform you that your over long awaited contract/inheritance fund
has been finally approved through Guarantee Trust Bank. We are now paying you off via
our self payment centre as part payment of USD$10.5M so please find below your new
account details with us as we have opened a non resident bank account for you to
enable you make transfer from your local account with us to your nominated bank
account.
Bank: ECO BANK OF NIGERIA
Address: ECO Bank Building 8th floor Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria.
Account number: 100003456789
Swift Code number: ACMADDK
Routing /ABA #: 0212456251
Your approved fund has finally been downloaded in our system you can now make the
transfer of your fund personally to any of your desired account through our digitized
pay yourself payment centre P.Y.P.C. this method is to safe guard customers fund and
adequate security it is called electronic digitized payment system.
Your are personally confirm your payment in your account in the next 24 hours we
implore you to dial +2348030977875 direct from your phone and you shall require to
enter your account NO: 100003456789 then enter your four digit PIN NO: XXXX then you
shall require to enter your personal account number for confirmation you need to
urgently do that as soon as you receive this e-banking pay yourself payment
downloaded.
Please confirm your fund and get back to us through this email:
(ocenicankk08014@yahoo.fr)
Best Regard,
MR. BEN MORDI
Foreign Remittance Director
Eco Bank Of Nigeria
Direct Phone: +2348030977875
|
Anti-fraud resources:
