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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:
- 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.
- zenithbankghanahelen6669@yahoo.com.cn (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs. Helen Adams" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <zenithbankghana1972000@yahoo.com.cn>
Date: Sun, 6 Jun 2010 11:25:38 +0100
Subject: YOUR ATM CARD PAYMENT CENTER.
INTERNATIONAL REMITTANCE DEPT,
ATM PAYMENT DEPARTMENT.
OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR OF OPERATION.
Atm Card Promo 2010.
A cash grant award of $650,000.00 from Atm Card Award Promo has been
awarded to you. Contact us with your details for claims
1.YOUR FULL NAME
2.YOUR HOME ADDRESS.
3.YOUR COUNTRY
4.YOUR CURRENT HOME TELEPHONE NUMBER.
5.YOUR CURRENT OFFICE TELEPHONE.
6.YOUR ID
7,YOUR Sex
8.A COPY OF YOUR PICTURE
THE ATM CARD PAYMENT CENTER HAS BEEN MANDATED TO ISSUE OUT YOUR PAYMENT AND YOU HAVE TO STOP ANY FURTHER COMMINUCATION WITH ANY OTHER PERSON(S) OR OFFICE(s) TO AVOID ANY HITCHES IN RECEIVING YOUR PAYMENT.NOTE THAT BECAUSE OF IMPOSTORS,WE HERE BY ISSUED YOU OUR CODE OF CONDUCT,WHICH IS (ATM-8411) SO YOU HAVE TO INDICATE THIS CODE WHEN CONTACTING THE CARD
CENTER BY USING IT AS YOUR SUBJECT.
To: Mrs. Helen Adams.
Tel: +233-2418-20549
Email: zenithbankghanahelen6669@yahoo.com.cn
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Anti-fraud resources: