|
|
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:
- ",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)
- "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: "MAIL" <contact@update.com>
Reply-To: infomail_contactt@proton.me
Date: Thu, 13 Apr 2023 16:26:18 -0700
Subject: URGENT ATTENTION.
Dear Fund owner,
We want to inform you that the International Monetary Fund authorized our bank to release your overdue contract inheritance payment fund amounted $2,500,000.00USD to you, Though the fund originated from Europe but from all the indications, the people in charge of your payment failed woefully to release your fund to you after all your effort to claim it thus, The IMF and UN decided to hand your fund over to our bank here in the USA (Mainstream Corporate Bank) so it can be paid to you via bank to bank wire transfer or online banking depending the method of payment preferable to you.
You are hereby warned to stop whatever communications you are having with group of persons or person in regards to your fund because they will continue to demand money from you with no fruition.
Get back to us immediately for more directives on the informations we shall be needing from you so your fund can be released to you via bank to bank wire payment or online banking which will enable you to access your fund and also transfer it from your online account to any bank account of your choice.
Make your reply to *****infomail_contactt@proton.me*****
Regards
Mr.John Evans
Payment Representative
Mainstream Corporate Bank
|
Anti-fraud resources:
