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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.
- 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.
- wr749229@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "United Nation" <claimsenquir@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: claimsenquire@hotmail.com
Date: Tue, 15 Dec 2009 01:21:13 -0900 (AKST)
Subject: Agreement
The United Nations has agreed to compensate all the people that had an
unfinished transaction or international Fund transfer
that failed due to Government problem or those that have been Frauded
in the Internet by dubious Individuals.The sum of £550,000.00 GBP was
issued to each of you .We found your name in our list as one of the
beneficiary and that is why we are contacting you through this medium.
This have been agreed upon and have been signed.
You are advised now to contact Mr.Williams Roy of
Barclays Bank London UK via his Email Address: wr749229@gmail.com
as he is our representative who is in charge of disposing the bank draft
to you.
You are to Send the information below to Mr.Williams Roy via his email
address:
<wr749229@gmail.com> for the immediate delivery of your Draft to you.
Full Names (Surname First).......
Current Address..................
Country..........................
Telephone #......................
Age..............................
Contact him immediately with the requested information above for
your compensation Bank Draft of £550,000.00 GBP.
Have a nice day and Hope you use this Money Wisely
Regards,
Gen Ban Kin Moon
Secretary General (UNITED NATIONS)
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Anti-fraud resources: