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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:
- "levy " (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. )
- "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)
- ",000,000" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "dear beneficiary," (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: World Bank group <info01@worldbank.org>
Reply-To: wbnkgroup@onet.pl
Date: Thu, 21 Dec 2017 09:31:20 +0100
Subject: Re: Did you authorize this?
Dear Beneficiary,
Are you alive or dead? We received several emails from one Mr. Garcia Charles Gilbert who narrated to us about the auto car accident you had 2 weeks ago. Mr. Charles made us to understand that you are in hospital for treatment but there is no hope of your recovery. He stated that he is your business associates and your next of kin whom you have chosen and permitted to inherit all your properties. He is contacting this office base on your contract/Inheritance f u n d valued USD$4,000,000.00 (Four, Million dollars only) which is about to be paid to you. He requested that the payment should now be transfered into his own personal account as he stated below.
Account Name Mr. Garcia Charles Gilbert
Citibank Banamex USA
15900 La Cantera Parkway Bldg #18
San Antonio, TX 77825
Phone: +120 9248 1231
Routing Number: 122233645
Account Number: 5944130210
We request your confirmation before we can process this transfer to Mr. Garcia Charles Gilbert Bank Account. This is to avoid releasing your money to wrong person because Mr. Garcia Charles Gilbert is too eager and ready to follow every instruction to have this money into his account. If you did not have auto accident and you did not permit Mr. Garcia Charles Gilbert to claim your money, kindly reply this message with your full contact information so we can process the release of the $4. million dollars to you.
Best Regard
DR JOAQUIM LEVY
MD World Bank group
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Anti-fraud resources: