|
|
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:
- 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:
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "(ecowas)" (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 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.
- +447035985962 (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.
- james_kelvin74@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Compensation from Economic Community of West African
<lucy@mail.jmknit.com>
Reply-To: <compensationKelvin@hotmail.com>
Date: Fri, 4 Jul 2014 20:22:52 -0700
Subject: REPLY FOR THE RELEASE OF YOUR FUND..
Attn: Sir/Madam,
>From Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) conjunction with Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the European Union (EU), have verified your Unclaims funds and found out why you have not received your payment is because you have not fulfilled the obligation given to you in respect of your Unclaims payment.
We have offer you a compensation of Six Hundred and fifty Thousand United State Dollars, contact Mr. Kelvin James to receive your fund by sending him your full name and your home contact address, Telephone number below:
Name: Mr. Kelvin James
Office Phone: +4470359 85962
Office Email: james_kelvin74@yahoo.com
Thanks for your Co-operation
Mrs. Tina Graig
(Accountant General)
|
Anti-fraud resources:
