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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:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "million 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)
- "affidavit " (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Alice Chen <chenalice972@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 1 Sep 2021 13:59:27 +0100
Subject: info
FROM THE DESK OF DIRECTOR.
MANAGING DIRECTOR GUARANTEE TRUST BANK PLC
ATTN: FUND BENEFICARY
BE INFORM THIS MORNING WE RECEIVE EMAIL MESSAGE FROM ONE MR JAMES LYNCH
FROM UNITED STATES OF AMERICA WHO CLAIM TO BE YOUR BUSINESS
ASSOCIATE AND HE TOLD US THAT YOU JUST DIED OF COVID 19 LAST MONTH AND HE
SAID THAT WE SHOULD TRANSFER YOUR $20.5 MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS TO
THIS NEW BANK ACCOUNT HE
FORWARD BELOW
BANK NAME BANK OF AMERICA
ACCOUNT NAME JAMES LYNCH
ACCOUNT NUMBER 2289543760
ROUT NUMBER 56007
SO SIR IF YOU ARE ALIVE AND YOU NEVER AUTHORIZE OR PERMITTED THIS
REQUEST THEN GET BACK TO US IMMEDIATELY TO AVOID WRONG TRANSFER OF YOUR
MONEY INTO THIS BANK
ACCOUNT AS WE THE GUARANTEE TRUST BANK PLC WILL NOT HELP RESPONSIBLE FOR
WRONG TRANSFER OF YOUR MONEY
ALSO MR JAMES LYNCH HAS SWORN AN AFFIDAVIT THEREBY MAKING HIM THE
RIGHTFUL BONAFIDE BENEFICIARY OF THIS MONEY.
THANKS
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Anti-fraud resources: