|
|
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:
- 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:
- "security keeping fee" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- 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.
- sa.bob02@sify.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "JOHN WILSON" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <sa.bob04@sify.com>
Date: Fri, 30 Jul 2010 20:04:51 +0100
Subject: Your overdue inheritance/lottery prize
Your Honesty Payment !!!!!!!
Your overdue inheritance/lottery prize that was stopped
by the united nations have been released and it is put in deposit GOLDMINE Courier Company to deliver
to you as cash a payment! since you’re disappointed in the past.So contact GOLDMINE Courier Company with your delivery address such as
1,your country 2,your home adress,3 your current OR DIRECT telephone number and your city
Below is there information
Contact Person Dr.BEN Williams
Email: ( sa.bob02@sify.com )
Tel: +234-70911-06444
You should duly contact Goldmine courier company for tracking nos and
v.i.p shipment recipient's (SKF).your reference code is..AXD-102-87539B.
Note that you will pay for the Security Keeping Fee of $365 and it is compulsory.
and to avoid delay of the delivery the box was registered as west african clothes so dont
let them know the content of this box
Best Regards.
Engr.John F.Wilson
|
Anti-fraud resources:
