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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:
- "hundred thousand us 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)
- "very confidential" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- 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 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.
- douglasben2@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs Susua hill" <mrssusan55@live.com>
Reply-To: <douglasben2@hotmail.com>
Date: Tue, 2 Feb 2010 19:25:17 +0700
Subject: URGENT CONTACT
Attn, My Dear ;
I am happy to inform you that your share of 40% has been released regarding the inheritance deal of the deceased USA citizen.Your fund has been programmed in an INTERNATIONAL SWIFT ATM DEBIT CARD in your favour in the amount of US$2.5M(TWO MILLION,FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND US DOLLARS) being your share of the inheritance fund.Iam now in Tokyo with my share of the fund for investment.Contact my secretary in Phnom Penh Cambodia with the below information and ask him to send you the SWIFT BANK ATM DEBIT CARD which i instructed him to send to you,immediately he hears from you .Find below his contact information
NAME; DOUGLAS BEN
EMAIL; douglasben2@hotmail.com
Tel; +85511771470
Find below the Pin number of the card and the account datas.Keep it very confidential untill you receive the card itself then you can start withdrawing your fund.You can withdraw $5000.00 per day in one ATM mechine if you need to withdraw much then you can use many ATM mechine at different locations.
Bank Name;UNION BANK OF SWITZERLAND
PIN CODE: 0741
Account number;001-83-208-71H
Once you receive the card,you can access it with the above information..Also immediately you have all your fund inform me.Regards
Barrister Mrs Susan Udel
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