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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:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "central bank of nigeria" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- 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.
- kehinde.lawanson@hotmail.com (Hotmail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: Firstonline Bank <firstonlinebank@rocketmail.com>
Date: Fri, 16 Mar 2012 15:23:24 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: Attn: Beneficiary
Attn: Beneficiary,
This is to notify you that the new president MR GOODLUCK JONATHAN has giving an instruction to the CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA and to OCEANIC BANK OF NIGERIA also with the EFCC to release all the funds they have been holding contract payment /next of kin inheritance fund /lottery Winners since three years now and we have been giving instruction here in FIRST BANK NIGERIA PLC to pay out to every owner which your name and address together with your $4.5 million was found in the list of the beneficiaries of the funds, so what you have to do now is to get back to us with your account details so that your funds can be transferred in to your bank account. MODE OF PAYMENT
(1)Online wire Transfer
(2) ATM CARD payment
Your Full Name........
Your Home Address................
Your Direct Telephone Number................
Your Age/ Occupation..............
Your Bank Name.............
Bank Account Number...............
Banking Routing Number or Swift Code..............
Bank Address.............
Best Regard.
Dr Kehinde Lawanson
Director First Bank Nigeria Plc.
email;kehinde.lawanson@hotmail.com
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Anti-fraud resources: