|
|
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:
- 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:
- "foreign remittance department" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
- 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.
- adzeibekoe1@yahoo.com (Yahoo; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "ECOBANK" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <adzeibekoe@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 23 Nov 2009 08:53:53 +0100
Subject: PLEASE CONFIRM........
RE: PROJECT FUND ALLOCATION ;
VIDE PROJECT REFERENCE #:
EB/6791/VOL9/02
I WISH TO NOTIFY YOU THAT YOUR LONG OVERDUE PROJECT FUND HAS BEEN GAZETTED TO BE FINALLY RELEASED TO YOU THROUGH THE FOREIGN REMITTANCE DEPARTMENT OF THIS BANK. MEANWHILE, A WOMAN CAME TO MY OFFICE FEW DAYS AGO WITH A LETTER CLAIMING TO BE YOUR REPRESENTATIVE AND SENT BY YOU.
HERE ARE HER INFORMATION'S:
NAME: BARBARA KLEIHANS
BANK NAME: ATLANTIC BANK OF NEW YORK.
ACCOUNT NUMBER: 08971400101125.
DO CONFIRM TO ME AS A MATTER OF URGENCY IF THIS WOMAN IS FROM YOU SO THAT THIS OFFICE WILL NOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR WRONGFUL PAYMENT OR UNLAWFUL DIVERSION OF THE PROJECT FUND TO A WRONG PERSON.
THE RESERVE BANK GOVERNOR, EXECUTIVE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND THE FEDERAL COMMITTEE FOR FOREIGN PROJECT PAYMENT HAS APPROVED FUND ALLOCATION TO THIS REPUTABLE BANK WITH THE OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR OF FOREIGN REMITTANCE / OPERATIONS TO HANDLE AND TRANSFER ALL PENDING FOREIGN PROJECT/INHERITANCE PAYMENT THROUGH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT RESERVE ACCOUNT WITH THE BANK.
WE SHALL PROCEED WITH THE PAYMENT TO THE SAID MRS. BARBARA KLEIHANS IF WE DO NOT HEAR FROM YOU WITHIN 48 HOURS AS WE WILL TAKE IT AS YOU ISSUED AUTHORIZATION TO HER. IF OTHERWISE, YOU ARE TO IMMEDIATELY REPLY ME BACK RECONFIRMING THE
BELOW INFORMATION FOR FINAL APPROVAL/REMITTANCE OF THE FUND PAYMENT TO YOU.
1. FULL NAMES AND PHYSICAL RENTAL ADDRESS (POSTAL ADDRESS)
2. DIRECT TELEPHONE NUMBER OR MOBILE NUMBER (TO FACILITATE EASY COMMUNICATION)
3. AGE AND OCCUPATION
4. NAME AND ADDRESS OF NEXT OF KIN
TO FACILITATE PROMPT RESPONSE, SEND YOUR REPLY TO THE DIRECTOR VIA THE BELOW CONTACT DETAILS;
(Email: adzeibekoe1@yahoo.com)
THANKS FOR YOUR ANTICIPATED COOPERATION.
BEST REGARDS,
MR. ADZEI BEKOE
FOR: ECO BANK INTL. PLC
TEL:+233 28 519 6822
|
Anti-fraud resources:
