|
|
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:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "await your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: frank smith <infofedexdelivery04@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 23 Apr 2017 04:45:09 -0700
Subject: URGENT!!!
UNITED NATIONS PAYMENT OFFICE
OFFICIAL PAYMENT UNIT.
Our Ref: UNO /UN/CTB
RELEASE CODE No: 0765
Attention Beneficiary.
SCAM VICTIMS COMPENSATION PAYMENT
Please be informed that your long awaited compensation funds payment in the
tune of $3.5M has finally been approved but it
has also been brought to our notice that a gentle man by the name Micheal
Maton has just forwarded a new banking details
claiming he is your next of kin and you are dead so here comes the big
question:
1)Did you authorize the above mentioned name to claim your funds?
2)Are you truly dead or alive?
3)Is Michael Maton your next of kin? if no kindly reconfirm this information
and get back to us with the below information for verification as the wire
will be done within 48hours from this notice
Your name:
Current home address:
Country:
Occupation:
Telephone Number:
Age:
Gender:
We await your urgent response so that we can proceed with your $3.5M
payment.
Yours faithfully,
Frank Smith
|
Anti-fraud resources:
