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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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:
- "money laundering" ("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. )
- "account opening" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "await your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "account opening form" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
- "charles soludo" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- 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.
- +2348023066034 (Nigeria, 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.
- tonypaymaster1@aol.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "CBN/GOV/REMMITANCE" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <tonypaymaster1@aol.com>
Date: Fri, 6 Nov 2009 01:58:53 +0800
Subject: CBN/GOV/REMMITANCE..IMMEDIATE FUNDS RELEASE
Federal Ministry Of Finance Nigeria
Committee on Foreign Payment.
(Resolution panel on contract payment)
IKOYI - Lagos,.Nigeria
Email:tonypaymaster1@aol.com
Our Ref: FGN/SNT/STB
Novmber/05/ 2009.
Attn: Beneficiary
I will like to introduce myself to you,i am Mr Tony Ezeh Jr i am the Federal Pay
Master of the Federal Ministry of Finance.The funds will no longer be coming and
will have to go back as the new Central Bank Governor has asked that funds no
longer be carried across borders and a notice has been sent out which makes it
impossible for the delivery agent to proceed.
It is very important that i bring to your notice that there has been a new
development in the payment of your funds,Due to the fact that the CBN Governor
Charles Soludo has been removed and replaced by Mr Sanusi Lamido.
In a meeting behind closed doors this evening after the close of work with the
new Governor (Mr Sanusi Lamido) that has just ended few minutes ago,it was
concluded that the following should be the new payment policy to get rid of the
idea of Money laundering which makes it difficult to deliver funds to
beneficiaries without being stopped at international Airports asking for several
Documents.
THIS IS THE NEW PAYMENT POLICY AND REQUIREMENTS BELOW:
1) You pay an initial Deposit of $450 for the opening of an online account with
WEMA BANK NIG PLC after which the funds will then be deposited in the account
and you can then proceed to make an online transfer at anytime you so desire.
2) Send a copy of your identification as a means of identification for the
account opening and request for your account opening form immediately.
This are the requirements that will enable you to be able to receive your
payments,As soon as you are in agreement with the new payment policy you are
requested to get back to me so i can send you a copy of the account opening
form.
You can copy and paste the link below to view an extract from one of the leading
national newspaper to know that this information is for real.
http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/editorial_opinion/article03//indexn2_html?pdate=040609&ptitle=Policy%20briefs%20for%20new%20CBN%20Governor
Thank you once again for your anticipated cooperation in advance while we await
your urgent response.
Congratulations in advance !!!!!
Mr Tony Ezeh Jr
Email:tonypaymaster1@aol.com
Telephone:+234-802-306-6034
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