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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:
- ",000,000" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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: IMF DIRECTOR <brianbankofamerica01@gmail.com>
Reply-To: imf@theclearance.org
Date: Sun, 31 Oct 2021 04:06:49 +0100
Subject: VERY NECESSARY YOU CONTACT US..12028559551
Address..712 H St NE
Washington, DC 2000
VERY NECESSARY YOU CONTACT US..+1-202-855-9551
My name is Mrs. Kristalina Georgieva, the director of IMF
department.
imf@theclearance.org
Phone number...+1202-660-9166
your funds worth $52,000,000.00 dollars has been registered with Mr.
Brian Moynihan
the CEO of Bank Of America to transfer it into your personal account
details okay.
contact Mr.Brian Moynihan with your personal data on details below for
better communication okay.
Email Address...brianceo@boamerica-us.com
phone number...+1-202-855-9551
Provides us with the following details to enable us verify
and deliver the funds to the right destination.
Your full name.........
Your phone number........
Your current house address........
A copy of your identity card.......
A copy of your photograph........
Note that your funds delivery registration will be
cancelled after three days of no respond from you.
Your swift response will be highly valued.
fixed fee is $350 dollars
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Anti-fraud resources: