|
|
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.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- ",500,000" (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)
- "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- 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.
- www.zenithbankplconline@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: nk1jimpaul8@zipmail.com.br
Date: Mon, 10 Dec 2007 05:20:54 +0100
Subject: =?iso-8859-1?Q?FROM=20ZENITH=20=20=20BANK=20INTERNATIONAL=20PLC=20REPUBLIC=20OF=20BENIN=2E?=
ATTN: CUSTOMER,
THE MANAGEMENT OF ZENITH BANK INTERNATIONAL PLC REPUBLIC OF BENIN, WISHES
TO INFORM YOU THAT WE ARE IN RECEIPT OF OUR DRAFT CHEQUE ISSUED IN YOUR
FAVOUR IN RETUNE OF $1,500,000.00 USD ONLY,FROM YOUR AGENT AND HE TOLD US
TO CANCELLED THE CHEQUE
BECAUSE YOU DON'T WANT TO RECEIVE IT.SO YOU ARE ADVISED TO CONTACT US IMMEDIATELY
AND TELL US WHAT IS GOING ON BEFORE WE PROCEED,YOU CAN CONTACT OUR DIRECTOR
DR ,JOHNSON AYAIYA. ON THIS WEBADDRESS:(www.zenithbankplconline@yahoo.fr
)
BEFORE WE CAN TAKE ANY ACTION WE ARE WAITING FOR YOUR URGENT REPLY AS SOON
AS YOU RECEIVE THIS E-MAIL .SERETARY FOREIGN OPERATION DEPARTMENT,
ZENITH BANK INTERNATIONAL PLC REPUBLIC OF BENIN.
THANKS FOR YOUR CO-OPERATION.
YOURS FAITHFULLY,
MR NKELEE JIMPAUL.
Anti-fraud resources:
