|
|
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:
- "atm card department" (this phrase is often used in the ATM card payment scam)
- "million 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.
- richardwashington806@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Mr Richard Wayne <info@akinaydemir.com>
Reply-To: <richardwashington806@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 03 Aug 2021 09:55:07 -0700
Subject: Beware of your approved $ 12.5 million payment!
--
_Beware of your approved $ 12.5 million payment! I would like to use
this
medium to inform you that your full payment of $ 12.5 million from the
Central Bank of America has been approved for further release through a
Visa ATM card, which you will use to withdraw all $ 12.5 million
dollars at
any ATM in any part of the world, but the maximum you can withdraw per
day
is only $5000. We have commissioned United Bank of America to send you
an
ATM card and a PIN that you will use to withdraw all $ 12.5 million at
any
ATM in any part of the world. We encourage you to contact the Head of
the
ATM Card Department of United Bank of america as follows: E-mail
address:richardwashington806@gmail.com The contact person is the
Rev.Richard Wayne, informing him that you have received a message from
the
Senate office ordering him to sent you an ATM CARD and a PIN CODE that
you
will use to withdraw $ 12.5 million at any ATM in any part of the
world.
Also send him your direct telephone numbers and contact address where
you
want him to send you an ATM CARD and a PIN CODE. Thank you for
following
this instruction, and congratulations once again. Mr. Richard Wayne
Compensation Agency._
|
Anti-fraud resources:
