|
|
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.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "lagos" (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.
- 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.
- platinumbankplcpaymentunit@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: dom.khan@btopenworld.com
Date: Fri, 14 May 2010 12:06:21 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: FEELESS FUND TRANSFER INTO YOUR NOMINATED ACCOUNT(TREAT AS URGENT)
PLATINUM BANK PLC
PLOT 707 ADEOLA HOPEWELL STREET,
P.M.B.00011
VICTORIA ISLAND,
LAGOS-NIGERIA.
Attn:Funds Beneficiary,
Base on the instruction we received from the office of the Finance Minister advising our Bank(PLATINUM BANK PLC) to release with immediate effect your trapped Payment of USD$11.7Million which was placed on hold for months by the Federal Government of Nigeria by some logistic problems.
With regards to the above instruction, this Bank wishes to advise you without further delay to reconfirm to this Bank your banking particulars where this fund will be transferred to immediately as your Bank information we have has been deleted from our system.
(1)Your Full Name and your Physical address
(2)Your Banking Particulars
(3)Your Age and Marital status
(4)Your Occupation and Position
(5)Your Direct Telphone Number for easy communication and
(6)A copy of your International Passport or Drivers License.
We advised you do this immediately so that your transfer will commence without any fee from you base on the instruction from the Nigeria Government in conjunction with the World Bank.you are not required to pay any fee for this transfer of your fund into your Nominated Account of your Choice.
Awaiting for your quick response
Sincerely
PROF.NDUKA WEST
HEAD OF FINANCE DEPARTMENT
PLATINUM BANK PLC
+234-8054-480-377
(platinumbankplcpaymentunit@gmail.com)
|
Anti-fraud resources:
