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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:
- "to your nominated bank account" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "hundred thousand united states dollars" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- 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.
- stevenmnuchin2097@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: " U.S TREASURY DEPT " <deadhead@kfedisbroke.com>
Reply-To: stevenmnuchin2097@gmail.com
Date: Sun, 27 Jan 2019 05:22:12 +0200
Subject: U.S TREASURY DEPARTMENT
Dear Beneficiary I am Steven T Mnuchin, Secretary of the Treasury under the=
U.S. Department of the Treasury. You can get more details about me here; a=
nd attached is my identity card for confirmation of office. https://en.wiki=
pedia.org/wiki/Steven_Mnuchin At the recently concluded meeting with the Wo=
rld Bank and the United Nations, an agreement was reached between both part=
ies for us to settle all outstanding payments accrued to individuals/corpor=
ations with respect to local and overseas contract payment, debt re-schedul=
ing, outstanding compensation payment and lottery funds. This is more conce=
ntrated on your lottery funds. Fortunately, you have been selected alongsid=
e a few other beneficiaries to receive your own payment of $1.5million (One=
Million five hundred thousand United States Dollars only). We have been no=
tified that you are yet to receive your fund valued at $1.5million this mon=
ey will now be transferred to your nominated bank account. Free to contact =
me with below details: Email: stevenmnuchin2097@gmail.com Looking forward t=
o hearing from you. God Bless America Secretary Steven T Mnuchin Treasury D=
epartment USA Note: This transaction is %100 legal with the security of the=
FBI Steven Mnuchin
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