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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:
- "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- 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.
- davidjacksonsfbi2@yahoo.com.ph (Yahoo, Philippines, Philippines; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: David Jackson <davidjacksonfbi@yahoo.in>
Date: Tue, 28 Oct 2014 14:11:33 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: I am Special Agent
 Our Ref: RTB /SNT/STB
To.Beneficiary:
Sir,
I am Special Agent David Jackson and am here in Nigeria as an FBI delegate that has been delegated to investigate this fraudsters who are in the business of swindling Foreigners that came for transaction in Nigeria . Please be informed that during my investigation I got to find out that there is a huge sum of $10.5million that has been assigned in your name(Beneficiary) and this fraudsters are busy swindling you without any hope of receiving your fund.
NOTE: You are not suppose to pay any money from the beginning before the release of your fund commence depending on how you want the transfer to be made to you.
This is to inform you that it is only through Atm Card that your fund will be released to you. It will be shipped to you through the courier service. I have a very limited time to stay in Nigeria here so I advise you urgently respond to this message .
I shall expect your response as soon as you receive this email. do not inform any of the people that collected money from before now about this new development, to avoid jeopardizing our investigation and their arrests.We will recover your money and send back to you.
Please,reply immediately via email :davidjacksonsfbi2@yahoo.com.ph
Best Regard,
DAVID JACKSON
FEDERAL BUREAU INVESTIGATION NIGERIA DIVISION
INVESTIGATION ON ALL ONLINE WIRE TRANSFER
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Anti-fraud resources: