|
|
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.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "outstanding contractors" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "your payment is being processed" (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)
- "central bank of nigeria" (the name of a person or institution often appearing 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.
- 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.
- mrgodwinemefielewin01@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: drvincentubah <drvincentubah04@gmail.com>
Reply-To: mrgodwinemefielewin01@gmail.com
Date: Fri, 4 Jun 2021 10:09:16 +0100
Subject: You are welcome
DESK=MR Godwin Emefiele
GOVERNOR
Central Bank of Nigeria.CBN
EMAIL-- mrgodwinemefielewin01@gmail.com
ATTENTION:SIR,
PAYMENT INSTRUCTION NOTICE
FROM THE RECORDS OF OUTSTANDING CONTRACTORS, NEXT OF KIN FUNDS AND
LOTTERY FUNDS DUE FOR IMMEDIATE PAYMENT THAT WAS SENT TO US, THE
CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA YOUR NAME/PARTICULARS WAS DISCOVERED AS NEXT
ON THE LIST OF THE OUTSTANDING PAYMENTS WHO HAVE NOT YET RECEIVED
THEIR OVER DUE PAYMENTS FOR YEARS.
I WISH TO INFORM YOU THAT YOUR PAYMENT IS BEING PROCESSED AND WILL BE
RELEASED TO YOU AS SOON AS YOU RESPOND TO THIS LETTER. ALSO NOTE THAT
FROM THE RECORD IN MY FILE YOUR OUTSTANDING PAYMENT IS $12.5M ONLY.
KINDLY RE-CONFIRM TO ME THE FOLLOWINGS:
NAME: Arthur Pallister---------------------------------------------
DATE OF BIRTH: --22/05/55---------------------------- HOME ADDRESS:-15 Gerrans
NATIONALITY----British----------------------------
CITY/STATE/ZIP CODE ------PL25 3DN-------------------- HOME PHONE#:
-----------------------------------
CELL PHONE#:---+447500012955----------------------------------
SEX:--------M---------------------------------------------
MARITAL STATUS:-------Married------------------------
OCCUPATION: ------S/E------------------------------
COMPANY NAME, POSITION AND ADDRESS IF ANY : ------na----------------------
AS SOON AS THE ABOVE INFORMATION IS RECEIVED FROM YOU, YOUR PAYMENT
WILL BE MADE TO YOU IMMEDIATELY VIA ONLINE PAYMENT OR ATM VISA
CARD/CASH COURIER DELIVERY SERVICES WHICH YOU CAN DEPOSIT DIRECTLY TO
YOUR BANK.GET BACK TO ME AS SOON AS YOU RECEIVE THIS MEMO FOR
IMMEDIATE ACTION.
Yours faithfully,
MR Godwin Emefiele
GOVERNOR
|
Anti-fraud resources:
