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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:
- "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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Bank of Ghana" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <emmakwesi@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 25 Mar 2010 20:30:06 -0700
Subject: Credit Info
Bank of Ghana
(Foreign Operations)
One Thorpe Road
P.O. Box GP 2674 Accra
Republic of Ghana
Tel: +233 54 1674880.
Our Ref: BOG/5375/ACR-OX1/GH/10
AMOUNT: US$5,300,000.00 DOLLARS
Sir,
Be informed that we have been directed to verify and make transfer of your fund into your account without any further unnecessary delays.
Following the complicated efforts made by your unscrupulous associates in Africa, you are hereby warned against any further communication concerning this payment with any third party to avoid retrieval of your fund to treasury.
Transfer of your fund will be made via our dollar correspondence bank in United States within 72hrs upon receipt and reconfirmation of your contract payment detail in our database.
Please confirm your contract payment detail for our prompt official proceedures.
Regards,
Mr. Emmanuel Kwesi
Head of operations.
www..bog.gov.gh
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Anti-fraud resources: