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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)
- "to 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 united states 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)
- "fund beneficiary" (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)
- "mrselizabethwilliams231@secretary.net" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. John Gerspach" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mrselizabethwilliams4352@secretary.net>
Date: Sun, 4 Feb 2018 02:26:08 +0100
Subject: Your New Year compensation fund transfer code number : TT20/K232/99
Attention: Fund Beneficiary,
Once again Following the ongoing first meeting of the year we want to inform you that your payment allocation for a Direct Bank to Bank Wire transfer payment has been approved in your favouur, and For that reason we have decided to change your payment procedures and for your information Note that you are in the Good direction and must be a happy person on or before 30th of March 2018 pending your prompt compliance with my advise as we have agreed to take care of all your expenses in other to enable the transfer of your money worth ($4,000,000.00) Four Million United States Dollars to be transferred directly from our bank Citigroup Bank to your nominated bank account.
it is our pleasure to inform you that your fund has been approved and upgraded in your favor which will be credited into your
nominated bank account via (KTT) Bank to Bank Telex Teleraphic Transfer and Your transfer code number is: TT20/K232/99 take note of this code
for security reasons.
kindly contact Mrs Elizabeth Williams as soon as you receive this email so that we will know we are contacting the right person and enable us feed you with the right information.
Mr. John Gerspach
Chief Financial Officer
Head Operating Committee Citigroup Inc
Direct Email : mrselizabethwilliams231@secretary.net
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Anti-fraud resources: