|
|
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:
- "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)
- "barr." (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- This email message is a fake lottery scam. Consider the following facts about real lotteries:
- They don't notify winners by email.
- You can't win without first buying a lottery ticket.
- They don't randomly select email addresses to award prizes to.
- They don't use free email accounts (Yahoo, Hotmail, etc) to communicate with you.
- They don't tell you to call a mobile phone number.
- They don't tell you to keep your winnings secret.
- They will never ask a winner to pay any fees to receive a prize!
- Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
Fraud email example:
From: "MICROSOFT AWARD TEAM COPYRIGHT ©" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <barr.kimberly.m_law4all@ovi.com>
Date: Sat, 17 Apr 2010 04:47:53 +0100
Subject: MICROSOFT AWARD TEAM ©
Ref: BTL/101OXI/02
Batch: 12/25/0340
On behalf of the Microsoft you are hereby notified that Your e-mail address has won you the sum of £500,000.00 from the MICROSOFT
INTERNATIONAL LOTTERY.
You are therfore advised to please contact Barr. Kimberly immediately for the release of your Funds. You can contact our Authorized Officer in
charged via e-mail addreaa:
Name: Mrs. Kimberly Marlin (Barrister)
Email: barr.kimberly.m_law4all@ovi.com
You are to comply back with the information stated below for more verification and identification. We are doing this just to ensure your Funds is
not released to an impostor.
(a)Your full Name: .................
(b)Sex: ............
(c) Contact address: .......................
(d) Your Telephone and fax numbers: .................
(e) Your Age: ........................
(f) Your occupation: .......................
(g) Your country of origin: ....................
Please Note: The verification and reactivation of Claiming your Winnings will cost you just US$ 190. take note of this and get back to Our
Officer in charge With the fee, so he can arrange for the delivery of your Bank Draft immmediately to your house address. He is going to instruct
you on how to make your payment.
Mrs. Kimberly Marlin......(barr.kimberly.m_law4all@ovi.com)
Yours in service.
Microsoft Award Team
MICROSOFT AWARD TEAM COPYRIGHT © 2010 ALL RIGHT RESERVED
|
Anti-fraud resources:
