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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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:
- "atm card department" (this phrase is often used in the ATM card payment scam)
- "million 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.
- This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- emersonjames899@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: EMERSON JAMES <harrybens765@gmail.com>
Reply-To: emersonjames899@yahoo.com
Date: Thu, 4 Aug 2022 11:42:04 +0300
Subject: ATTENTION
ATTENTION:
This is to notify you that all efforts to reach you on the phone have
proved abortive. I have sent emails too but no acknowledgement whatsoever,
I am writing to notify you of the progressive report concerning your
unclaimed funds following the directives of the Director-General's opening
remarks at the media briefing on COVID-19 -WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER /8/2021.
We have been instructed by the United Nation and United State Government to
release all unclaimed funds/ATM Cards to the beneficiaries to curtail the
recession because of the outbreak of the Coronavirus " COVID-19".
All our effort to release your unclaimed funds to your bank account has
proved abortive, several attempts were made by our ATM card department to
authorize your card as directed but system restore was unable to complete
successfully. It was a big surprise to received a letter of authorization
this morning giving permission to Mrs. Amy Barthel claimed your funds, the
letter identified Mrs. Amy Barthel as your family relatives stated that you
died months ago as a result of Corona Virus "Covid-19" and you authorized
her to receive your compensation payment funds valued USD$10.5 Million.
Kindly but urgently confirm the authenticity of the authorization letter
submitted by your family relative as you can see the below bank details she
submitted for the funds transfer to avoid remitting your funds to a wrong
person and please update us with your current bank account where you wish
to receive the funds immediately .
You can email me with this email: emersonjames899@yahoo.com
Bank Name: US BANK OF AMERICA
Bank Address: 9724 BAY SIDE CT.,SPRING HILL FL 34608
Home Address: 13527 NW 147TH AVE ALACHUA FL 32615
Account Holders Name: AMY BARTHEL
Account Number: 76875994746
Routing Numbers: UD5653
Online Account User ID: VP167
Online Access Password: 71104.
HERE IS THE INFORMATION WE NEEDED FROM YOU SO THAT YOU CAN HAVE YOUR
FUNDS WORTH OF $10.5 MILLION DOLLARS
FULL NAME:................................
RESIDENTIAL ADDRESS:......................
TELEPHONE/FAX N°S:........................
YOUR OCCUPATION:..........................
YOUR ID...................................
for easy communications to enable us to render you the best of our
service, or you can provide us with your own number to enable us
reach you.
Please treat this matter as extremely urgent and respond back as soon as
possible
Thank you, and congratulations.
Regards;
EMERSON JAMES
Managing Director
International Monetary Fund (IMF)
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