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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "very confidential" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- 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.
- mr_bubaouedo055@hotmail.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: BUBA <ouedobuba555@sify.com>
Reply-To: mr_bubaouedo055@hotmail.fr
Date: Fri, 4 Jun 2010 12:26:11 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: FROM MR BUBA OUEDO
FROM MR BUBA OUEDO
Bills & Exchange Manager
BANK
OF AFRICA
BURKINA-FASO
WEST AFRICA.
Dear
Friend,
I am Mr Buba Ouedo the bill and exchange manager in
the bank of Africa Ouagadougou Burkina Faso . In my department, I found the
deposited fund $29M (Twenty Nine Million United
States Dollars) owned by a disease
customer who died in the air crash with his entire family. However, I shall
detail you with the full information as soon as I hear from you.
Can you be able and capable to
assist me by providing me with your receiving bank account where this fund will
lodge in your favour?
I shall give
you 30% of the total sum as soon as this fund hits your account and I shall
visit you in your country for the shearing. Please this is very confidential.
If you are interested, please
forward me the bellow information's;
Your name: ............................
Your country:
.........................
Your
phone Number: ......................
Your Tel/fax: ...........................
Your bank account
number............
Your bank name and
address....................
Your age:
...............................
Your occupation: .......................
Thank for your anticipated
co-operation
Reply to- mr_bubaouedo055@hotmail.fr
Yours Faithfully.
Mr Buba Ouedo.
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