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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.
- 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.
- +447024029549 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
- 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.
- stepheng1958@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: The Commonwealth <stepheng1958@thecommonwealth.org>
Reply-To: stepheng1958@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Sat, 6 Apr 2013 15:05:18 +0700 (ICT)
Subject: The Commonwealth Do Re-Confirm To Receive Your Fund.
The Commonwealth
Marlborough House, Pall Mall,
London SW1Y 5HX, UK
Tel: +44 702 402 9549
Tel: +44 702 403 6816
Tel: +44 702 408 1542
24hours office (Public holidays are not observed).
Sir,
The African Union (AU) have given us the go ahead to commence with the process of transfering funds owed beneficiaries in any of the African countries.
Your e-mail address and name was found in our central computer system as one of the beneficiaries owed as such we contact you.
Due to the poor banking system in the African region we will commence with the process of transfering the fund owed you directly from London.
I advise you to fill these questionaire correctly make no mistake.
A. Re-confirm your personal telephone and fax numbers.
B. Re-confirm the actual amount owed you.
C. Re-confirm your bank account details where you are to recieve the fund owed you.
Due to the poor internet / www being withnessed in most countries in the world you are advised to send your Re-confirmation reply to my e-mail address: stepheng1958@yahoo.co.uk
Once you send me the Re-confirmation of the questionaire we will commence with the process of transfering the fund owed you to your bank account.
You are advised to fully co-operate.
Sincerely,
Sir Stephen Goldberg.
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