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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:
- 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:
- "my direct line" (a "direct line" in a scam usually means an untraceable mobile phone number used by a scammer in an internet cafe, a redirection service number that forwards to a mobile or a free voicemailbox in a different country.)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Dr. Aganga Olusegun" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <fgn272010@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Fri, 7 May 2010 15:04:18 +0100
Subject: Your Delayed Payment.
Greetings,
It's my pleasure to notify you that after the unfotunate death of President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua the Country is in deep mourning and the Acting Presient has given a directives on all payment by the Federal Government as there has been discovery of unusual request for payment purportedly signed and approved by the late President.
Having reconcilled the Government Account for 2009 it was discovered that your payment was actually approved before now but due to some bereaucaratic bottleneck and corrupt practices by some officials your payment is still pending and this is part of the fund some of these officials are trying to divert for their personal gain.
The World Bank Group cum International Monetary Fund has offered to help the Country redeem its name during this periodd of National needs and our case is more pathetic considering the Economic Meltdown which most Country is just recovering from and there is no Country that is willing to see its resources been wasted or put in the hands of few cabals and most members Countries of the World Bank are no more willing to allow the world resources to be wasted on third world Countries.
The World Bank Group has therefore released a letter clearing the Grant earlier suspended because the Previous Administraion was not using the fund juiciously and the Worl Bank local representtaive will be part of the Payment supervising team to ensure beneficiaries like you receive their fund.
Therefore the Government has approved $7 Million(Seven Million USD) of your Outstanding payment and will be released into your designated Account within 48hrs directly from National Bank,Abuja through their corresponding Bank in Europe.
You have been placed on a priority payment status due to the delay and set back you Suffered in the past and you are directed to forward the Banking details of where you will want the fund to be sent and this should include the Bank Name,Account No., Routing number or Swift Code and also your full name and address.
The payment will be by Wire Transfer so make sure there is no error on the details you are sending, Once I receive the details it shall be forwarded to the paying Bank that will make the transfer and a copy of the transfer receipt will be sent to you..
For confidentiality purpose, my office will take the initiative of contacting you with regular updates for Proper monitoring of your transaction to avoid the mistakes of the past where some beneficiaries suffered unjustly because they were ignorant of the payment procedures and they end up loosing their funds.
You can email or call my direct line. I shall not tolerate those lackadaisical attitudes exhibited by some beneficiary under my predecessor. This is my direct line and should NOT be given to a third party as I restrict calls that come to this line.
Please quote the Code: Crystal Clear on your correspondence for Pass Identification.
Congratulations in advance.
Dr. Aganga Olusegun
Finance Minister
FRN.
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