|
|
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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "with your full names" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "EXTERNAL AUDITOR" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <external.auditors@yahoo.com.ph>
Date: Sat, 8 Jun 2013 08:05:35 +0100
Subject: OVER INVOICED CONTRACT
HELLO DEAR FRIEND,
I SEE YOU TAKING THIS EMAIL MESSAGE SERIOUSLY .TREAT THIS MESSAGE WITH ALL SERIOUSNESS, PLEASE PLEASE.WE NEED DO THIS QUICKLY.AND AMERICA IS PREFERED IN CHOICE BUT WILL DISCUSS WITH YOU FOR ANY OTHER GOOD DESTINATION.
WE ARE EXTERNAL AUDITORS TO THE BANK OF GHANA.IN THE COURSE OF A ROUTINE AUDIT EXCERCISE MY AUDIT TEAM CAME UPON AN UNPAID INVOICE WHICH TURNED OUT TO BE FROM AN OVER INVOICED CONTRACT WHICH HAD BEEN EXECUTED AND PAID FOR ALREADY TO THE BENEFICIARY.
BUT THE OVER INVOICED AMOUNT WHICH IS US$20 MILLION IS LYING UNPAID BECAUSE THE BANK STAFF ARE LOOKING FOR A FOREIGNER WHO HAS AN ACCOUNT THAT CAN RECEIVE THIS MONEY OUTSIDE GHANA.
THIS IS BECAUSE THE ORIGINAL CONTRACT WAS TO A FOREIGN FIRM..SO THIS US$20 MILLION IS CURRENTLY IN A SUSPENSE ACCOUNT IN THE B.O.G. READY FOR TRANSFER TO A FOREIGN ACCOUNT IF YOU CAN PROVIDE YOUR ACCOUNT AND CORPORATE WITH US.
WE SHALL GIVE YOU 30% OF THIS AMOUNT IF YOU AGREE TO CORPORATE WITH US AND 70% TO US.
1. EMAIL BACK NOW WITH YOUR FULL NAMES AND ADDRESS
2.DIRECT PHONE NUMBER(so i shall call you )
3.AND YOUR BANK ACCOUNT
4.AND DIRECT EMAIL IF DIFFERENT FROM THIS.
SO I CAN GIVE YOU MORE DETAILS HOW TO PROCEED STEP BY STEP.
PLEASE TREAT THIS SERIOUSLY AND CONFIDENTIAL.IF YOU CANNOT PROCEED SIMPLY LET ME KNOW.DO THINK IT OVER CAREFULLY.
THANK YOU,
MR ROLLAND FIFI
|
Anti-fraud resources:
