|
|
joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
|
|
"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:
- "transferred into your bank account" (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)
- "million us 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: "Mr. Jesus Martinez" <dinnergen@gmail.com>
Reply-To: bankofholland3@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 9 May 2022 15:41:48 -0700
Subject: Bank of Holland
This Message is from the Head Office of the Bank of Holland 12 S Main
St, Holland,NY 14080, United States and am contacting you now about
your funds of $20.8 Million Us Dollars deposited to this Bank by the
Central Bank Of Africa to transferred the funds to you as Your
compensation for Scam Victim because your name and your phone number
was listed among the Victims that was scammed some years ago by West
Africa Country and now you are to be compensated with the sum of $20.8
Million Us Dollars Therefore you have to reconfirm your full
information to me such as
Your Full Name..........................
Your Address............................
Your Tell Number........................
Your email address......................
Occupation..............................
Copy ID or International Passport.......
And after reconfirming your personal information to me you should then
let me know the best way that you wish to receiver your funds of $20.8
Million Us Dollars to you either the funds will be transferred into
your bank account or the funds will be converted to an Atm Master Card
and it will be delivered to your home address or the funds will be
delivered to you in Cash or Through Check to your home address okay,
and bear it in back of your mind that it will cost you the sum of
$100.00 as the Transfer/Delivery Charge and you will have the funds with
Mr. Jesus Martinez
Bank of Holland 12
S Main St, Holland
NY 14080, United States
|
Anti-fraud resources: