|
|
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.
- 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.
- cntralbnk1998@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr.Peter Wilfred" <"www."@cronos.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: "Mr.Peter Wilfred" <cntralbnk1998@hotmail.com>
Date: Fri, 2 Dec 2016 07:42:18 +0900 (JST)
Subject: To whom it may concern
To whom it may concern
Following the final deliberation on the recent vetting and verification in your transfer file.
The Ministry of Finance after careful study of the legal transfer documents submitted by the Central Bank PLC on your behalf, the commission based on satisfactory evidence made available has today approved the transfer of your $3.7M to your designated bank account. Fill below:
Bank:
Account Number:
Swift Code:
Beneficiary:
Occupation:
Phone Number:
Occupation:
We use this medium to say congratulations. On the strength of the above, a mandate has been given to the Central Bank PLC, Benin Republic to make an immediate remittance of the above stated funds to your account. This directive is as result of the Government of Benin instructions and guideline to embark in quick exercise and to make sure that all payment is completed without any hindrance.
Faithfully yours in service
Mr.Peter Wilfred –
Group Managing Director/CEO Zenith Bank Corporate
Phone: +22998914872
e-mail:cntralbnk1998@hotmail.com
|
Anti-fraud resources:
