|
|
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:
- "cotonou" (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.
- This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. John Frank Pikes" <barr.barrmikeike.mlke240@gmail.com>
Reply-To: fbi_bureauinvestigation@yahoo.in
Date: Sat, 23 Jul 2011 22:01:43 +0530 (IST)
Subject: FBI SIGNED OF YOUR ATM MASTER CARD TODAY
P {
MARGIN: 0px
}
UL {
MARGIN-TOP: 5px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 5px
}
OL {
MARGIN-TOP: 5px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 5px
}
P {
MARGIN: 0px
}
UL {
MARGIN-TOP: 5px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 5px
}
OL {
MARGIN-TOP: 5px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 5px
}
 Good
Day.
We have been watching you since last year
until this 2011 we understood that you don want listen to our advice and you
have to know that we are also working to make sure your ATM CARD which are
suppose to be delivered to you and also bear in mind that what ever you emailing
us will be forward to the court today.
Also we are hereby to notified by the
federal bureau of investigation Porto Novo department of the insult you imposed
on them by failing to comply by their requirements since last year till now.
Your full residential address has been
forwarded to us for your immediate arrest today to face your charge but I deemed
it fit to give you one more chance to save yourself from this mess but as for
now I don’t understand your plan.
We have been told that you have failed to
dance by the rule of the FBI which will warrant 2 years jail sentence. Now I
john Pikes the special agent in charge of the FBI Albany department I am giving
you 24 working hours to effect the payment of the $47.00 usd. To the FBI in
republic of Benin (fbisecurity) with the information written below:
Receiver: James Charles.
Country: Benin Republic
City: Cotonou
Test Q: When
Answer: Â Today
Amount: $47.dollars
Control Number.........
You have to try as much as you can and make
this payment today so that your ATM CARD will be delivered immediately to your
destination address tomorrow morning.
You have to stop every transaction you are
communicating with other organization now to avoid delay on the processing of
your ATM CARD.
Note that you? if you fail to stick with my
advice today or any delay will lead us coming directly to your home address at
any time today ,so try and dance by the rule and get back to me with good
understanding ASAP.
Special Agent in Charge;
E-mail address
fbi_bureauinvestigation@yahoo.in
Mr. John Frank Pikes Direct line +229
98481380
|
Anti-fraud resources:
