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joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
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"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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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.
- upsexpresscouriercompany48@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs. Mary Chukwudi" <honcharlesagent@gmail.com>
Reply-To: upsexpresscouriercompany48@gmail.com
Date: Tue, 27 Jun 2017 06:35:30 -0700
Subject:
Dear Friend:
The {un] { Economic} welfare committee, be informed that you have been
awarded a compensation. A worldwide compensation for the current
economic meltdown. congratulation : Your amount credited in the card
is $4.7million best regards and I have finally registered your ATM
Master Card with UPS Courier Company Benin Republic this morning
after the agreement to pay you via debit card which will allow you
withdrawal from any automated teller machine around you. as we agreed,
and the delivery will take off immediately you made contact with them
based on my agreement with Ups Director Dr. Nelison White,
Contact them your delivery information as follow,
Your Name-------
Your Home Address-----
Your County-----
Your Age/sex-----
Direct Phone number---
Your Occupation----
Contact Person: ups Director Dr. Nelison White
Country : Benin Republic
Contact Person: Dr. Frank Nelson,
E-mail: (upsexpresscouriercompany48@gmail.com)
Tel: +22967422640
Once again you have been awarded $4.7million
Best Regards,
Mrs. Mary Chukwudi.
Contact UPS Express Courier Company Now
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