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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:
- "accounts@skye-ng.co.cc" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "SKYE BANK PLC" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <accounts@skye-ng.co.cc>
Date: Mon, 26 Apr 2010 04:44:02 +0100
Subject: Reply/Acknowledge
Attention Beneficiary
This mail is in respect of your deposited payment worth $2.5 million that was entrusted in our Bank by the Government in respect of your Contract/Inheritance fund.
For verification sake, Reply/Acknowledge the receipt of this mail to Mr. Paul Okafor (Account Director) via email(accounts@skye-ng.co.cc) with the below information in other for the transfer process to be acted on immediately into your local account/mailing address in State.
Full Name...
Address...
Mobile Number...
Proof Of Identity(Driver's License or International Passport)...
Note that all paper work as been made already.
Regards,
Richard Abel
Skye Bank Plc
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CONFIDENTIAL FROM SKYE BANK PLC ONLINE BANK
This e-mail and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended Solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. Dissemination, distribution or copying of this e-mail or the information herein by anyone other than the intended recipient, or an employee or agent Responsible for delivering the message to the intended recipient,is Prohibited.
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Anti-fraud resources: