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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:
- 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:
- "into your nominated bank account" (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.
Fraud email example:
From: "Dayo Omolokun" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <dayoo353@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 4 Jan 2015 21:54:51 -0800
Subject: Hello Dear
Hello Dear,
I have this business which I will cherish to contact you but if only you will be trusted: My name is Dayo Omolokun the Executive Director / Chief Financial Officer Standard Chartered Bank Ghana.
The arrangement of this legitimate deal is for you to only assist me have the said fund transfer into your nominated bank account. I discovered the said money on my last year report as the Executive Director / Chief Financial Officer.
The amount involved is ($6,210,000.00.) Six million two hundred and ten thousand united states dollars. And will like you to work with my advice so that we will not make any error. since the transfer will go through bank to bank that means there will be no delays for immediate transfer, I will also give you 40% for the total funds as commission. If you are willing to assist me on this proposal therefore go ahead and fill the below information;
Full name.......
Address.........
Age....,Sex.....
Occupation......
Telephone.......
Fax number......
Faithfully Yours.
Mr. Dayo Omolokun
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Anti-fraud resources: