|
|
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:
- "tax clearance" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "clearance document" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "tax clearance" (Tax offices mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. Even after you pay their fake tax demands you will still not receive the non-existent funds you have been promised. )
- "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 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.
- ecobanplc199@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: JOHN MORE <bas848kay@yahoo.co.jp>
Reply-To: <bas849kay@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Tue, 8 Sep 2015 22:18:29 +0100
Subject: CHANGE OF ACCOUNT PARTICULARS ON YOUR BENEFICIARY FILE
Telegram: Eco Bank Nig Plc
12 Adeola Odeku Street
Victoria Island Lagos Nigeria.
Attention: Sir / Ma
CHANGE OF ACCOUNT PARTICULARS ON YOUR BENEFICIARY FILE.
We did tried our best to contact you,but i cannot explain why none of our many E-mails and letters got your attention.However,i am just happy that at almost the point of giving up on you we have finally gotten in touch with you and i want to assure you here that as long as you adhere to my instructions and follow every directives given,then by this time next week.This fund will surely be in your account.
The transfer procedure is presently on going at the telex department of the bank as i told you in my last E-mail and from what i know regarding this type of transfer,within the next few days the fund transfer will be ready and you must try and get the Non-Residential Tax Clearance Document within the next few days.Because this Document is like a key that opens this transfer as without the Document nothing can be done regarding this fund transfer.
So i want you to contact Mr.Rabiu Aliu who is the head of Legal Department of the bank on his direct E-mail: ecobanplc199@gmail.com immediately.Write to him fast and ask him to let you know the cost of having a Non-Residential Tax Clearance Document issued to your name for the sake of the completion of your fund transfer of $41.2 Million U.S Dollars into your account number.He is an honest man that can be trusted,so contact him as directed so the he can let you know everything that will be required in order to get a Non-Residential Tax Clearance Document in your name.
Let me know after you have contacted him.I await to hear further from you for further advise.
Mr John
|
Anti-fraud resources:
