|
|
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:
- "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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr Prosper Eze" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <office.ezeprosper1@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 11 Mar 2015 02:12:52 +0800
Subject: RE: YOU HAVE AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM SKYE BANK PLC
Attention:Category A Beneficiary
This is to acknowledge the receipt of the order from the Ministry of Finance in respect with the Provision Act Of Decree 114 of the 2014 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.I am officially to inform you that we have verified your payment file and found out that
you are among the beneficiaries that are to receive their payment this quarter of the year and why you have not received your payment is because of false information we have been receiving as some impostors are presenting themselves as the actual beneficiary of the fund.Base on the records we have now and to avoid wrong payment,you are to reconfirm the stated information below before we can proceed with payment.
1)Your complete names
2)Your complete address
3)Your direct telephone numbers
In addendum our bank(Skye Bank Plc)has been mandated to make payment of $500,000.00 via ATM Card immediately the above mentioned information is received and verified.I shall be waiting for your
timely correspondence to enable me act swiftly.
Regards,
Mr Prosper Eze
Chief Operating Officer ATM Dept
Skye Bank Plc
( Copyright © 2015 Skye Bank PLC.)
|
Anti-fraud resources:
