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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.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned 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.
- 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.
- mr.silvia.parker@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. Silvia parker" <mr.silvia.parker@deliveryman.com>
Date: Tue, 21 Feb 2017 20:28:30 +0100
Subject: Dear Approved Beneficiary
Dear Approved Beneficiary
This is to let you know that envelope containing an ATM CARD bearing your name and your home address was brought to our office today by Access Bank. And we the FedEx delivery service are mandated to dispatch it to you without no further delay.
Base on this, you are required only to send $75 to this office to enable us deliver your parcel immediately. You are to send it with the below information:
Receiver's Name: DURU AMARACHI PATRICK
Receiver's Address: LAGOS-NIGERIA
Text Question: for what
Text Answer: delivery
Amount: $89
Note: when this fee is been received you will receive your parcel in the next 42 hours.
Thanks for your co-operation
Mr. Silvia parker
The senior delivery officer
FedEx delivery service.
Contcat:mr.silvia.parker@hotmail.com
telephone:+234-8038976857
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Anti-fraud resources: