|
|
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:
- "abuja" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "TASK FORCE ON FOREIGN PAYMENT." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <icscbn@o2.pl>
Date: Fri, 20 Aug 2010 06:31:09 -0700
Subject: DEAD OR ALIVE? FROM THE PRESIDENTIAL TASK FORCE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA
OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENTIAL TASK FORCE
FEDERAL CAPITAL TERRITORY FCT
ABUJA.
Attention:Beneficiary
Information reaching this office today from the office of the Presidency
to write and know if you are alive or dead since a lot of people
has been coming to the Debt Management Office (DMO) with different bank details
as either your agents or representatives putting it to the Debt Management
Office to transfer the said fund contract/inheritance payment into those
various bank accounts which they claimed to be yours.
Please, I was mandated by the (PTF) presidential task force authority to
write you so as to know if you are alive and healthy and also know if these so
called agents /representatives are carrying out your directives.
Based on the new Order/Directive given by the United Nations and the president
Federal Republic of Nigeria, I hereby inform you that your payment has been
endorsed to release to you via ATM VISA CARD through One of the appointed and
acredittedBanks pending when we receive your response on this issue at hand.
If you are truly alive and not aware of this ploy to divert this fund,do
let us know immediately by confirming your contact Address,telephone number
so as to release your fund by ATM VISA CARD without further delay.
Thanks.
Yours Sincerely.
MR.YUNUS ADAMS.
DIRECTOR GENERAL PRESIDENTIAL
TASK FORCE ON FOREIGN PAYMENT.
|
Anti-fraud resources:
