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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:
- The following fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
- "vittorio foundation" (not involved with lotteries)
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "please endeavor to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "clear source of funds certificate" ("anti-terrorist", "anti-money laundering" or "drug-free" certificates are a common way for criminals in fake lottery scams and other Advance Fee scams to get you to send money to them. There are no such certificates in the real banking world. )
- "claims office" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
- "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)
- "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)
- "i have a new email address!" (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
- "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 fake lottery scam. Consider the following facts about real lotteries:
- They don't notify winners by email.
- You can't win without first buying a lottery ticket.
- They don't randomly select email addresses to award prizes to.
- They don't use free email accounts (Yahoo, Hotmail, etc) to communicate with you.
- They don't tell you to call a mobile phone number.
- They don't tell you to keep your winnings secret.
- They will never ask a winner to pay any fees to receive a prize!
- 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.
Fraud email example:
From: Charity Donation <donationc1@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: charitydc@live.com
Date: Thu, 4 Dec 2008 02:38:06 -0800 (PST)
Subject: DONATION AWARD WINING
I have a new email address!You can now email me at: donationc1@yahoo.com
- Dear Donation Beneficiary,To celebrate the 50th anniversary program,the Fondazion Di Vittorio, ITALY in conjunction with other relevant odiesis giving out a Yearly donation of $600.000 USD (Six Hundred Thousand United States Dollars ) to 50 lucky recipients.You were selected among the lucky recipients to receive the award sum of $600.000 USD ( Six Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) as charity donations/aid from the Fondazion Di Vittorio, ITALY in accordance with the enabling act of Parliament.Your parcel with identification number: {EPL/CPL/9800} has been sent to our affiliate claims office, because your claims falls within our United Nations booklet, and you have been directed to contact the United Nations officer in charge of claims dispatch.Please endeavor to send the below informations and remember to quote your Qualification numbers (EPL/CPL/9800) in all discussions. when sending your claims inquiries to Financial Officer.1. Full Names: 2. Full Address 3.City 4.State 5. Zip 6.Country 7.Sex 8.Age 9.Occupation 10.Telephone NumberYour parcel contains the following documents:1. DONATION CHEQUE VALUED THE SUM OF US$600,000.00 US DOLLARS.2. DONATION CERTIFICATE FROM THE VITTORIO FOUNDATION, ITALY 3. CLEAR SOURCE OF FUNDS CERTIFICATES(C.S.F.C...)4.BENEFICIARY PAYMENT FORM(KINDLY NOTE THAT THIS IS THE FORM THAT STATES THE BENEFICIARIES NAME AND BANK NAME THAT WILL RECEIVE THE CHEQUE.)5.LETTER OF AFFIDAVITS FROM THE UNITED KINGDOM COURT OF JUSTICE,STATING THAT THE DONATION WAS RECEIVED LEGALLY FROM THE UNIVERSAL DONATION PROGRAMME, AND DULY SIGNED BY THE LEGAL ATTORNEY TO THE United Nations.AWAITING YOUR CORDIAN REPLY BACK.MRS HOOD JOY L.
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