|
|
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:
- "certificate fee" (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. )
- "activation fee" (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. )
- "stamp duty" (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. )
- "abuja" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "atm_card_nigreia@outlook.com" (this email address looks like addresses used in "ATM SWIFT card" scams)
- "atm_card_nigreia@outlook.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- "atm_card_nigreia@outlook.com" (this email address looks like addresses used in "ATM SWIFT card" scams)
- "atm_card_nigreia@outlook.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- 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.
Fraud email example:
From: "ATM CARD" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <deparment.atmcard@yahoo.com.vn>
Date: Thu, 7 Jul 2016 00:34:03 +0200
Subject: CONTACT ATM CARD PAYMENT OFFICE
CONTACT ATM CARD PAYMENT OFFICE
GOOD DAY,I HAVE DEPOSITED THE CHECK TO THE ATM OFFICE. ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS
TO CONTACT THE(ATM_CARD_NIGREIA@OUTLOOK.COM) THEY WILL GIVE YOU DIRECTION ON
HOW YOU WILL BE RECEIVING YOUR ATM CARD DAILY. MY AGREEMENT WITH THEM IS
$5000USD DAILY UNTIL THE WHOLE OF US$1,5MILLION IS WITHDRAW COMPLETE.
YOU ARE NOT EXPECTED TO PAY FOR THE DELIVERY FEE OR STAMP DUTY FEE OR ANY
CERTIFICATE FEE BECAUSE ALL THE FEE IS ALREADY DEDUCTED FROM THE FUNDS ONCE
THE REMITTANCE IS DONE. THE ONLY FEE YOU WILL SEND TO THEM BEFORE THE
DELIVERY IS ACTIVATION FEE WHICH IS I DID NOT KNOW THE AMOUNT.BUT WHEN YOU
CONTACT THE ATM CARD OFFICE ABUJA FEDERAL CAPITAL TERRITORY NIGERIA, TRY TO
ASK THEM HOW MUCH IS THEIR ACTIVATION FEE.
CONTACT THEM NOW WITH THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION BELOW.
1. YOUR FULL NAMES.
2. YOUR PHONE AND FAX NUMBER.
3. YOUR DELIVERY ADDRESS {WHERE YOU WANT THE ATM CARD TO BE SENT TO}.
4. YOUR OCCUPATION AND JOB TITLE.
5. YOUR AGE & SEX.
THANK YOU.
DR.AHMED IBRAHIM,
YOUR ATM CARD IS READY TO DELIVERY
ATM_CARD_NIGREIA@OUTLOOK.COM
+234 80 3048 5054
|
Anti-fraud resources:
