|
|
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:
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "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.
- Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
- 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.
- +22993202902 (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.
- philip_chi04@yahoo.fr
- philp_chi04@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: officefiles3333@freenet.de
Date: Wed, 08 Oct 2008 17:42:47 +0200
Subject: CONTACT MY SECRETARY!
MY FRIEND,
IS ME BARRISTER PIUS DAVID I AM VERY MUCH HAPPY TO INFORM
YOU THAT I HAVE SUCCESS IN GETTING TH0SE FUND TRANSFERED.UNDER THE NOW
COOPERATION FOR NEW PARTNER FROM LONDON,RIGHT NOW I AM IN LONDON FOR
INVESTMENT PROJECTS WITH MY OWN SHARE OF THE TOTAL SUM, MEANWHILE I WANT
YOU TO CONTACT MY SECRETERY FOR YOUR OWN TOTAL SUM 950,000,00,
THIS
NAME.MR PHILIP
EMAIL: (philip_chi04@yahoo.fr)
PHONE NUMBER +229
93202902.
OFFICE!NUMBER THE PARTMENT 4A.
SEND HIM THE FOLLOWING
INFORMATION TO PROVE YOURSELF TO HIM:
YOUR FULL
NAME;...............................
YOUR
ADDRESS:.................................
YOUR
COUNTRY:.................................
YOUR
OCCUPATION:.................................
YOUR PHONE
NUMBER:.............................
NOTE THAT IF YOU DID NOT SEND HIM
THE ABOVE INFORMATION COMPLETE, HE WILL NOT RELEASE THE CHEQUE TO YOU
BECAUSE HE HAS TO BE SURE THAT IT IS YOU.ASK HIM TO SEND YOU THE TOTAL
SUM OF (950,000,00)USD CASHIER\'S CHEQUE, WHICH I KEPT FOR YOU.
NOTE
ALSO THAT I WILL NOT BE REACHED BY EMAIL OR PHONE FOR NOW BECAUSE I AM
CORRENTLY AWAY FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSE WITH MY SHARE AND I WILL BE BUSY
TILL ABOUT SIX MONTHS TIME.
NAME: MR PHILIP
EMAIL:(philp_chi04@yahoo.fr )
REGARDS,
BARRISTER DAVID PIUS,
Anti-fraud resources: