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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:
- 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)
- "money-gram" (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. )
- "economic and financial crime commission" (This name is often mentioned in money recovery scams (re-scam): the real EFCC does not contact victims to offer to get their money back because that is near impossible. )
- "(efcc)" (This name is often mentioned in money recovery scams (re-scam): the real EFCC does not contact victims to offer to get their money back because that is near impossible. )
- "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- 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" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <romney.niko100@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 1 Oct 2017 11:23:15 +0800
Subject: ATM PAYMENT CENTER ( Contact Mr.Romney Niko +2348116742001 Asap )
Economic And Financial Crime Commission(EFCC)
15 Awolowo Way Victoria
Island Lagos Nigeria.
SCAM VICTIMS PAYMENT UNITE
Dear Sir/Madam
We wish to let you know that everything concerning your ATM CARD payment dispatching is ready. Be Informed that we had a meeting with the Important offices & that of the UNITED NATION In regards to the release and delivery of your fund and we were mandated that your fund should not cost you anything because it is your awarded BONOFIDE Scam victim Compensation fund which has been Issued via ATM Card.
Moreover, we have an agreement with the UNITED NATION and that of the Lixus Courier Service that are to deliver the said ATM Card at your address and one of the agreement made at this meeting is that you should only pay for insurance of the said ATM card which is $250 U.S. DOLLARS only so that no hitch or delay will be caused by any agency or Security Organization as soon the SHIPMENT are made to your country.
However, you have between today and Friday 29th to send the fee.Note that failure to adhere to these directives will warrant forwarding your payment file to U.S TREASURY Department of States for the proper cancellation of the said Scam victim Compensation fund awarded to you.
This is the paying information on which expected of you to wire the requested payment via Money-gram money transfer.
Receivers Name: NWANNA PETER
Located Address: Lagos-Nigeria
Text Question: Best
Text Answer: Red
Amount: $250 USD
Sender's Name:............................
Sender's Address:....................................................................
Sender's Country:...............................
And for Security reasons we requires that you enclose your next response along the payment Info by re-furnish us with your full name,Phone, address where the said ATM Card is to be delivered by the above mentioned Courier Company.
I wait the payment information shortly to enable us proceed for the delivering of your card.
Please feel much free to contact me directly on :+234-8116742001 if there is any further clearance needed.
Your Safety is 100% guaranteed.
Thanks.
Yours sincerely,
Alhaji Ibrahim Magu
Executive/Chairman(EFCC).
Romney Niko
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