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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:
- 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:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "death certificate" (this phrase is often used in inheritance scams such as next of kin or https://www.419scam.org/419-murdered-businessman.htm">orphan scams. )
- "million united state 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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- 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.
- 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.
- oceanicint_bnkplc@hotmail.com (Hotmail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "OCEANIC BANK PLC." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <oceanicint_bnkplc@hotmail.com>
Date: Thu, 31 Dec 2009 08:13:29 +0100
Subject: ATTN: FROM OCEANIC BANK PLC.
OCEANIC BANK PLC.
>From the desk of
MR FREDRICK BENSON
Director of ATM payment
Motto: Bank with us and never Regret
oceanicint_bnkplc@hotmail.com
Attention: sir/ma.
My name are Mr.Fredrick Benson I am the director of ATM Payment I am in contact with
you regarding of your inheritance payment in our bank over here in Nigeria, which is the sum of
(Fifteen million united state dollars) which is about to pay out to an individual whom claim to be
representative.This man called Mr. Williams John has provide to us all the necessary document
Saying you are dead and also he also presents to us your death certificate and that is the main
reason why Iare contacting you in this regard We want to know if truly this man is your
representative over here in Nigeria.
We need you to answer our question because our bank will not be responsible for any
Lost. this is the reason why you have been contacted by my office.because this fund will be issue
Out inform of inter -switch ATM card and I will be the one to authorize it and if we do
not Heard anything from you in the next 24hours hours definitely it true you are dead and
this Fund will be approve in the favor of Mr. Williams john because he has all the necessary
Prove that you are dead already but if you are still alive kindly get back to me and tell
Me you are still alive within 24hours with all this information or call me direct on
my cell phone (+234-705-990-6982)
Get back to me with this information required below.
Full name: ...................
Contact address: ..................
Home phone/cell: ...........
Occupation: ...........
Certified id/driver's licensee: ...........
Note: that while you are contacting, you should get in touch with me with all this
above Information to show that you are still alive and we need to get this done today
or else the Fund will be approving in the favor or Mr. Williams john.
Sincerely
Director of ATM payment
MR FREDRICK BENSON
oceanicint_bnkplc@hotmail.com
(+234-705-990-6982)
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