|
|
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:
- "necessary legal documents" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "huge deposit" (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)
- "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)
- "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 next of kin scam.
- 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.
- 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.
- consultantmanager@o2.pl (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Steven Mark" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <stevenmark232004@o2.pl>
Date: Sun, 5 Jul 2015 14:52:11 +0100
Subject: Pty Kindred
Hello,
I crave your indulgence for the unsolicited nature of this letter but it was borne out of desperation and current development,Please bear with me for I am legal advisor to Michael Harris (Deceased) who died in Air France plane which disappeared over the Atlantic Ocean with his wife Mrs. Anne on the 31 May 2009 with other 216 passengers on board. Having worked wth hm for long I know that my client had no living kin but I went ahead and made several inquiries to their embassy to locate any of my clients extended relatives but this has provide unsuccessful.
You can confirm this from the website below which was published by
BBC. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8077858.stm
I only did so to be double sure of this fact. I have contacted you to assist in repatriating the money and property left behind by my client before they get confiscated or declared unserviceable by the bank where these huge deposits were lodged. The bank has issued me a
notice that in the event that no next of kin comes up for the claim,the account will be confiscated if not claimed and we have just about few months.
Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over a year now I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased so that the proceeds of this account valued at US$3.5 Million Dollars can be paid into your nominated bank account and then you and me can share the money in the mode.60% shall be for me and 35% for you and 5% shall be map out for any undue expense that are being made within the transfer.
I have all necessary legal documents that can be used to back up any claim we may make. All I require is your honest co-operation to enable us see this deal through. I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law.
Please your Telephone and Fax Number urgently needed for further discussion. I look forward to your urgent response. Find my email ID :consultantmanager@o2.pl
Yours faithfully,
James Baldwin
Phone: +447520641880
Email: ---consultantmanager@o2.pl
---
This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software.
https://www.avast.com/antivirus
|
Anti-fraud resources:
