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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:
- "stamp duty" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- ",500,000" (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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Mrs Elizabeth Clair <samfranklord@gmail.com>
Reply-To: mrselizabethclair1@gmail.com
Date: Wed, 26 Jan 2022 14:00:16 -0800
Subject: We are not gonna Give Up on You!
--
ATTN:
I'm Mrs Elizabeth Clair, Access Trust Bank account Remittance Director with
the IMF/Switzerland budget and fiscal planning commission,
I'M using this great opportunity to inform you that your long awaited fund
has finally been granted and approved in our 2022 budget for immediate
release by Mr Sam Frank
Sequel to a brief meeting held with
United States
This office as a new reform foreign debts reconciliation committee has
consistute under the directives of the IMF/WB/UN economy regulatory and
supervisory supervisory bodies to liquidate external creditors bills in
this quarter of year 2021 by cutting all approved funds down to
$10,500,000,00 (TEN MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS) to each
beneficiary and your file has been approved for payment and we have come up
with a resolution in agreement that every approved beneficiary most
obtain/secure "STAMP DUTY " with the sum of $500,00 and also delivering
charge from Mr Sam Frank Office.
Please reconfirm your
Name:
Home address :
Phone number :
As this will be needed to avoid any misappropriation as well for easy
communication.
For further clarification in this matter feel free to text me and ask
questions
+1 657 206 7112
Best Regards
Mrs Elizabeth Clair
Access Trust Bank Account Remittance Switzerland
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