|
|
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:
- "atm payment department" (this phrase is often used in the ATM card payment scam)
- "swift card payment center" (this phrase is often used in the ATM card payment scam)
- "card center will send you an atm card" (this phrase is often used in the ATM card payment scam)
- "hundred thousand 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)
- ",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)
- "high court" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "federal high court" (This court is often mentioned in '419' scams to give the victim a reason why he/she should send thousands of dollars to the scammers. A 'Federal High Court' exists in Germany and Nigeria, but not in other countries, such as the UK, Spain, Netherlands, Senegal, Benin, South Africa or other countries where fake lawyers in scams often claim to be based. )
- 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.
- +22993065020 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)
- 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.
- oceanicbankplc350@yahoo.fr
- oceanicbankplcz@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "suleadamu Gazeta.pl" <suleadamu@gazeta.pl>
Date: Wed, 21 May 2008 22:02:04 +0200
Subject: CONTACT OCEANIC BANK PLC FOR YOUR ATM
How are you togther with your family.i hope fine,
I have been waiting for you since to contact me for your Confirmable bank
Draft of $1,500,000.00 (One Million Five Hundred Thousand United States
Dollars But I did not hear from you since that time,then i went and
deposited the $1,500,000.00 United States Dollars, draft/cheque in the bank.
We have arranged your payment through swift card payment center Asia
pacific, this card center will send you an atm card which you will use to
withdraw your money in any atm machine in any part of the world, but the
maximum is One Thousand, Five Hundred United States Dollars Per-Day.
Kindly contact the below person who is in possition to release your ATM
Payment Card and Send your information which they will use to send the card
to you.
1) Your full name
2)Your home address were you them to send the atmcard
3)Current occupation
4)Age
5)Your current home telephone number/mobile phone number
However, kindly contact the below person who is in position to release your
atm card.
Directors name is (REV.EMMANUEL OKUTE),
ATM Payment Department OCEANIC BANK PLC (O B P)
Telephone.......+229-93065020
Fax...................+229-394622.
Email: ( <oceanicbankplc350@yahoo.fr>oceanicbankplcz@yahoo.fr)
I have paid for the processing and delivery charges.the only money that
your are going to pay to them is only $100 dollars which they will use
to obtain the affidevit of onwership from the federal high court of Benin
Republic.
this is the code of cond of conduct which is(ATM-0411) so you have to
indicate this code when contacting the ATM DEPT CENTER IN OCEANIC BANK by
using it as your subject.
Try to contact them as soon as possible to quicken the processing of your
card before your draft gets expired.
You should also Let me know as soon as you receive it from bank ok.
Best Regards,
Mr Sule Adamu
Thanks and Have a nice Day
Anti-fraud resources: