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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:
- ",000,000" (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)
- "here in united kingdom" (this email uses bad English)
- "foreign payment department" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
- This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- 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.
- mrhorward1@accountant.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Jerry Howard" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mrhorward@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 13 May 2010 17:21:36 +0100
Subject: Reply with this code.Ref : ABY/NRI-ACCT/7878256589/04
Ref : ABY/NRI-ACCT/7878256589/04
My Name is Mr.Jerry Horward .
I am the auditor and head of computing department of
Royal Bank of Scotland Liverpool Branch here in United Kingdom .
There is an account opened in this bank in 2003 and
since my inception into office on 2nd Jan 2009 ,I then
found this account and when I investigated deeply by
contacting the assigned next of kin I also found that
the next of kin to this account was an american who
lived in London for over 63Yrs and nobody has operated
on this account again after 2004. I took the courage to
look for a reliable and honest person who will be
capable for this important transaction. In order to
transfer out $100,000,000 (One Hundred Million U.S
Dollars)
After going through some old files, I discovered that if
I do not Remit this money out urgently,it will be
forfeited for nothing and the Royal Bank of Scotland
management might divert the funds to their own accounts.
Please respond immediately I will use my position and
influence to effect the legal approval and onward
transfer of this fund into your account with appropriate
clearance from foreign payment department. You will
stand to get 40% while 60% will be for me.Kindly quote
the reference (acct) numbers above when responding to
this mail .
I will fill you in with further details upon your reply
.You can call me directly on this private telephone
number so that we can discuss more on how to transfer
this funds to your designated account in your country .
Tel : + 44 792 408 6767 Reply to my private email :
mrhorward1@accountant.com
Sincerely yours,
Mr.Jerry Howard
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