|
|
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:
- "u.k " (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 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.
- markgreen516@yahoo.com (Yahoo; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "Sir Herbert Finley." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <markgreen516@yahoo.com>
Date: Fri, 23 Jan 2015 04:20:34 -0600
Subject: From Gaming Regulators and National Lottery U.K.
Good day,
well.This is to inform you that the Online Gaming Regulators and National
Lottery U.K resolved in the security vote meeting of 5th January 2015 to pay
out an outstanding entitlement of US$950,000 [Nine Hundred and Fifty
Thousand US Dollars] only that you won years past but yet to be paid out.
The board and committee members are aware that you never received your
payment and was consequently reverted into payment through ATM Card that
was deposited at Aeon Finance & Security House, Washington, D.C - USA
with instructions that the ATM Card be delivered to your delivery address
at your earliest convenience.
You should endeavor to contact the contracted company firm to ship your
ATM card as contracted.
Assigned Agent/Supervisor: Mr. Mark Green
Email: markgreen516@yahoo.com
Tel # 1-702-570-3339
Faithfully,
Sir Herbert Finley.
Copyright 2014 All rights reserved
|
Anti-fraud resources: