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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:
- "dear beneficiary," (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
- "atm_issueout@hotmail.com" (this email address looks like addresses used in "ATM SWIFT card" scams)
- "atm_remittancecentre@hotmail.com" (this email address looks like addresses used in "ATM SWIFT card" scams)
- 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.
- atm_issueout@hotmail.com (Hotmail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
- your ref #:atm/lag/ng (west africa office) e-mail:atm_issueout@hotmail.com dear beneficiary, accredited atm card(231) awarded for (Hotmail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "ATM CARD PAYMENT CENTRE" <info@atmpayment.com>
Reply-To: atm_issueout@hotmail.com
Date: Tue, 23 Mar 2010 07:55:26 -0500
Subject: Dear Beneficiary !!!
Senate House®
---DEPUIS 1725---
276xc Committee On foreign Payment,
Resolution Panel On Contract Payment.
Ikoyi-Lagos Nigeria
Your Ref #:ATM/LAG/NG
(West Africa Office)
E-mail:atm_issueout@hotmail.com
Dear Beneficiary,
Accredited ATM Card(231) awarded for contract payment of $350,000.00
USD. with Card Number; 4203521263312200 has been allocated in your
favour,So if you wish to receive your fund this way please let us know
by contacting the international remittance centre,card payment
Steven Osho.Esq (atm_remittancecentre@hotmail.com) with the following information's;
FULL NAME:
DELIVERY ADDRESS:
PHONE:NUMBER:
COUNTRY:
OCCUPATION:
SEX:
AGE:
AMOUNT AWARDED:
Best Regards,
Senator David Mark
WARNING!!!
ANY MAIL RECIEVED OF THIS SUCH WITH ANY OTHER TRADE MARK OR ADDRESS SHOULD BE
FOWARDED TO YOUR Senate House IMMEDIATELY; THIS WILL HELP US TO FIGHT
SCAM AND LOTTERY IMPOSTERS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ANTICIPATED CO- OPERATION
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