|
|
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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "urgent assistance" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. Eric Lee" <nshenan@yahoo.com.sg>
Reply-To: financialofficer@sify.com
Date: Wed, 16 Jun 2010 12:20:46 +0800 (SGT)
Subject: MR. ERIC LEE (CALL ME: +60-102-978-074)
FROM MR. ERIC LEE
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER (CFO)
ALLIANCE BANK OF MALAYSIA.
DEAR FRIEND,
I HOPED THAT YOU WILL NOT EXPOSE OR
BETRAY THIS TRUST AND CONFIDENT THAT I AM ABOUT TO IMPOSE ON YOU FOR
THE MUTUAL BENEFIT OF OUR FAMILIES.
I GOT YOUR CONTACT ADDRESS FROM THE
INTERNET WHEN I WAS SEARCHING FOR A BUSINESS PARTNER. I NEED YOUR
URGENT ASSISTANCE IN TRANSFERRING THE SUM OF (USD22.5 M) MILLION TO
YOUR ACCOUNT WITHIN 7 BANKING DAYS.
THIS MONEY HAS BEEN DORMANT FOR YEARS IN OUR BANK WITHOUT ANY BODY CLAIMING THE FUND.
I WANT THE BANK TO RELEASE THE MONEY
TO YOU AS THE NEXT OF KIN TO OUR DECEASED CUSTOMER (THE OWNER OF THE
ACCOUNT) BELONGS TO ONE OF OUR FOREIGN CUSTOMER (MR. ANDREAS SCHRANNER)
WHO DIED ALONG WITH HIS ENTIRE FAMILY ON MONDAY 31th JULY 2000 PLANE
CRASH.
IN SUBSEQUENT DISBURSEMENT OF THE
MONEY,50% OF THIS MONEY WILL BE FOR YOU IN RESPECT OF THE PROVISION YOU
MADE BY STANDING AS THE NEXT OF KIN TO CLAIM THIS FUND WHY 50% WILL BE
FOR ME. YOU AND I WILL TAKE CARE OF THE EXPENSES THAT WILL COME UP
DURING THE TIME OF TRANSFER.
I DON'T WANT THE MONEY TO GO INTO OUR
BANK ACCOUNT AS AN ABANDONED FUND. SO THIS IS THE REASON WHY I
CONTACTED YOU SO THAT THE BANK CAN RELEASE THE MONEY TO YOU AS THE NEXT
OF KIN TO OUR DECEASED CUSTOMER.
I WILL GIVE YOU MORE DETAILS ABOUT THIS PROJECT WHEN I HEAR FROM YOU HAVE A GREAT DAY.
You can view this site to know more..
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/859479.stm
1. NAME IN FULL:.......................
2. ADDRESS:..............................
3. NATIONALITY:........................
4. AGE:......................................
5. SEX........................................
6. OCCUPATION:......................
7. MARITAL STATUS:............
8. PHONE....................................
9. FAX:.........................................
10. SCAN AND SEND A COPY OF YOUR IDENTITY CARD TO
ME.
I PLEAD YOU WITH THE NAME OF GOOD
ALLAH, IF YOU CAN NOT FINISH THIS BUSINESS DO NOT CARE TO REPLY I DON'T
WANT THIS MONEY TO HANG ON THE WAY.
BEST REGARD,
MR. ERIC LEE
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER (CFO)
ALLIANCE BANK OF MALAYSIA.
TEL: +60-102-978-074
|
Anti-fraud resources:
