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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:
- "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.
Fraud email example:
From: NOTIFICATION OF PAYMENT <mrdouglasrichardd1@gmail.com>
Reply-To: richarddouglas3021@gmail.com
Date: Tue, 24 Aug 2021 10:27:28 +0100
Subject: FUND
Attention: Sir/Madam,
After our board meeting with United Nations and International Monetary
Fund (IMF) including European Parliament and Asia Government, they
have given Department Of The Treasury automating to release all
outstanding payment of US$20.5M (Twenty million, Five hundred thousand
United States Dollars) through US Bank.
This is instruction given by International Monetary Fund (IMF) and
office of the Presidency.
Kindly reconfirm below
1) Your full name.
2) Contact Address
3) Phone, fax and mobile #.
4) Age.
5) Occupation.
6) Your bank details
Meanwhile all legal documents from Department Of Treasury
Direct-Account Washington DC will be release to you before your fund
will be transfer into your bank account.
Thanks for your maximum co-operation.
Richard Douglas
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Anti-fraud resources: