|
|
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:
- "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- "await your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- 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.
- george.manuel@freemail.hu (Freemail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
- sept. 2016 fr: george manuel sms: +447452033197 email: george.manuel@freemail.hu attention: dear sir/madam, i wish to bring this to you (Freemail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "Manuel" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <lacyjonesk@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 11 Sep 2016 04:46:07 +0530
Subject: Update on your Fund Release
7th Sept. 2016
Fr: George Manuel
Sms: +447452033197
Email: george.manuel@freemail.hu
Attention:
Dear sir/madam,
I wish to bring this to you and it should excite you.
The SCB and ECB executives held a meeting with respect to the delay in releasing/transferring your fund to your account.
An agreement has been reached today the 7th of September 2016; and a delivery channel as be made to close the gap and have your fund release to you through a courier means. A courier company in UK has been mandated to ship/post via a diplomatic means.
You will have access to the tracking system and monitor your shipment until it gets to your door step. You shall not in any way release the tracking details to anyone.
Please kindly forward to me immediately:
Full name
home address
Telephone numbers
Fax numbers.
The above information is require to enable us update your profile before the process of the shipment.
I await your urgent response.
Yours faithfully
George Manuel
or email Jerry Cyprus: jerrycyprus1@volny.cz
|
Anti-fraud resources:
