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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:
- "abuja" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "US.AMBASSADOR" <danaboki4@gmail.com>
Reply-To: mrsmarybethleonnard@aol.com
Date: Fri, 6 May 2022 19:01:28 +0100
Subject: ATTENTION !ATTENTION!! ATTENTION!
--
Embassy of the United States of America
Plot 1075 Diplomatic Drive Central District Area, Abuja.
CHECK HERE VIEW MY DATA:
https://ng.usembassy.gov/our-relationship/our-ambassador/
ATTENTION !ATTENTION!! ATTENTION!!
THIS IS AMBASSADOR MARY BETH LEONARD. THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
AMBASSADOR TO NIGERIA. I SHALL BE COMING TO YOUR COUNTRY FOR AN
OFFICIAL MEETING ON FRIDAY AND I WILL BE BRINGING YOUR ATM MASTER
CARD WORTH $5M ALONG WITH AND I I HAVE THE VETO POWER TO BRING WHEN
COMING
AS SOON AS I AM THROUGH WITH THE MEETING I SHALL THEN PROCEED TO YOUR
ADDRESS. (SEND YOUR CELL PHONE NUMBER AND THE ADDRESS WHERE YOU WANT
ME TO BRING THE PACKAGE).
YOU ARE A VERY LUCKY PERSON BECAUSE I SHALL BE BRINGING IT MYSELF AND
THERE IS NOTHING ANYONE CAN DO ABOUT IT.
CHECK
HERE: https://ng.usembassy.gov/our-relationship/our-ambassador/
THERE IS ABSOLUTELY GOING TO BE GREAT DOUBT AND DISTRUST IN YOUR HEART
IN RESPECT TO THIS EMAIL COUPLED WITH THE FACT THAT SO MANY MISCREANTS
AND IMPOSERS (SCAMMERS) HAVE TAKEN POSSESSION OF THE INTERNET TO
FACILITATE THEIR NEFARIOUS DEEDS.
HOWEVER, IT PERTINENT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT THIS PACKAGE MUST BE
REGISTERED AS AN AMBASSADORIAL PACKAGE FOR ME TO DEFEAT ALL ODDS AND
THE COST OF REGISTERING IT IS {300 EURO ONLY}.THE FEE MUST BE PAID IN
THE NEXT 50 HOURS SO THAT ALL NECESSARY ARRANGEMENT CAN BE MADE
BEFORE TIME WILL BE AGAINST US.
AS SOON AS YOU SEND THE FEE MAKE SURE YOU SEND ME THE PAYMENT
INFORMATION. MY FLIGHT IS TUESDAY AND I EXPECT YOU TO COMPLY BEFORE
THEN SO THAT THE DELIVERY CAN BE COMPLETED. IF YOU DO NOT COMPLY, THEN
IT WILL NOT BE MY FAULT IF YOU DO NOT RECEIVE YOUR PACKAGE.
MRS MARY BETH LEONARD
US.AMBASSADOR
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Anti-fraud resources: