|
|
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:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "claim agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
- This email message is a fake lottery scam. Consider the following facts about real lotteries:
- They don't notify winners by email.
- You can't win without first buying a lottery ticket.
- They don't randomly select email addresses to award prizes to.
- They don't use free email accounts (Yahoo, Hotmail, etc) to communicate with you.
- They don't tell you to call a mobile phone number.
- They don't tell you to keep your winnings secret.
- They will never ask a winner to pay any fees to receive a prize!
- 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.
- kontaktocasso@terra.es (Terra, Spain; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "Carlos M. Lopez" (may be fake)
Date: Wed, 8 Sep 2010 01:05:24 +0200
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS
PRIMETIVAL LOTTO INTERNATIONAL.
HEAD OFFICE:
Apartado de correos 129
28085, Madrid Espaņa.
Attention: Email User.
Congratulations, PRIMETIVAL INTERNATIONAL ONLINE E-MAIL AWARD PROMOTION 2010.
We are happy to inform you that your email address have emerged a winner of,
NINE HUNDRED AND FIFTEEN THOUSAND EIGHT HUNDRED AND TEN EUROS ONLY.(915,810.00euros)..
NOTE: to begin your claim, please complete this below including the photocopy
of your identification and contact your claim Agent Company below, by E-mail or telephone.
*******************************************************
PROMOTION DATE 20/04/2010.TIME:11:30AM.
REFERENCE NUMBER: EUS/772/988/5521
BATCH NUMBER: 325109579Bc-0
TICKET NUMBER: 27522465896-6453
LUCKY NUMBERS: 4-13-21-27-36-38-45
Your full name:...............................................
Full Address: .................................................
Nationality: ....................................................
Sex: ..............................................................
Telephone/mobile/fax: .....................................
Amount won: ..................................................
********************************************************
OCASO SECURITY COMPANY.
TELL: 0034 688 240 495
E-MAIL: kontaktocasso@terra.es
Foreign services manager Mr Carlos M. Lopez.
*********************************************************
Sincerely tours
MR Dennis Richardson.
President LOTTO INTERNATIONAL.
|
Anti-fraud resources:
