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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.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "million dollars" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- 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.
- fexpresscompanyltd@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "ATM CARD OFFICE" <office_sile2@aol.fr>
Reply-To: fexpresscompanyltd@gmail.com
Date: Fri, 9 May 2014 02:20:40 +0600 (BDT)
Subject: YOUR PAYMENT IS READY
Dear Friend.
This is to inform you that your ATM Card payment of $4.8Million Dollars
has been authorized by the Federal Government of Nigeria, so therefore we
have deposited the ATM Card with FedEX Company for delivery to you, so
kindly re-confirmed your personal information such as below to them for
the delivery of the ATM Card to you so that they will deliver the ATM Card
to your address.
1. Your full name..
2. Address where you will like it to be sent..
3. Private phone Number.
4. Your age..
5. Attached / scanned copy of any identification of yours..
Contact Person: DR. JOHN NAPOLI
EmaiL: fexpresscompanyltd@gmail.com
EmaiL: fexpresscompanyltd@gmail.com
Thanks,
Joyce Hazelwood
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Anti-fraud resources: