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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:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "atm payment department" (this phrase is often used in the ATM card payment scam)
- "swift card payment center" (this phrase is often used in the ATM card payment scam)
- "card center will send you an atm card" (this phrase is often used in the ATM card payment scam)
- "million dollars" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "high court" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "federal high court" (This court is often mentioned in '419' scams to give the victim a reason why he/she should send thousands of dollars to the scammers. A 'Federal High Court' exists in Germany and Nigeria, but not in other countries, such as the UK, Spain, Netherlands, Senegal, Benin, South Africa or other countries where fake lawyers in scams often claim to be based. )
- This email message is a "New Partner from Paraguay" scam.
- 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.
- mrakimjohnson1@sify.com (Sify; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: Barr Yusuf Gibo <barryusufgibo01@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Sat, 10 Jul 2010 08:16:27 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: Good Day Receive Your Atm Card
Good Day Receive Your Atm Card
I have been waiting for you since to come down here and pick your bank draft but did not hear from you since that time then i went and deposited the(USD$2.5 MILLION Dollars) draft/cheque in the bank.
We have arranged your payment through swift card payment center Asia pacific, this card center will send you an atm card which you will use to withdraw your money in any atm machine in any part of the world, but the maximum is Two Thousand Five Hundred Dollars Per-Day.
Kindly contact the below person who is in position to release your ATM Payment Card.Send your information which they will use to send the card to you.
1::Your full name::
2::Your home address were you them to send the atmcard::
3::Current occupation::
4::Age::
5::Your current home telephone number/mobile phone number:: ::
6::A Copy of your identification::
However, kindly contact the below person who is in position to release your atm card.
Mr Akim Johnson,
ATM Payment Department Oceanic Bank
Email: mrakimjohnson1@sify.com
TEL: 00229 97 03 13 37.
we have paid for the processing and delivery charges . and the only money that you are going to pay is to obtain the certificat of ownership from the federal high court of Benin Republic.
Try to contact them as soon as possible to quicken the processing of your card before your draft gets expired . Let me know as soon as you receive your card. Wait for your respond.
Best Regards
Barr Rasaki Yusuf
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