|
|
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:
- "(efcc)" (This name is often mentioned in money recovery scams (re-scam): the real EFCC does not contact victims to offer to get their money back because that is near impossible. )
- "farida waziri" (This name is often mentioned in money recovery scams (re-scam): the real EFCC does not contact victims to offer to get their money back because that is near impossible. )
- 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.
Fraud email example:
From: "MRS. FARIDA WAZIRI EFCC" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mrsfaridawaziriefccofficebox@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Sat, 6 Nov 2010 04:31:00 -0800
Subject: Attention:Beneficiary,From the EFCC.
Attention:Beneficiary,
It was resolved after the Board meetings this Novermber 2010 by the foreign Remittance office of Economic &
Financial Crime Commission (EFCC)office to release your outstanding payment of $30M USD long awaited
fund waiting for transfer as we began this Second Quarter fiscal payment of the year commence for the year 2010.
You are hereby advice to reconfirm to us all this information below for your payment.
1)Your Full Name__________________________ _____________
2)Your Address_______________________ ______________________________
3)Your Age___________________________ _______________________
4)Your Mobile, Direct Telephone Numbers________________________ ________________
5)Fax Number________________________ _________________
6)Occupation____________________ __________________________
We sincerely apologies for our late contact with you, We are committed to serve you better.
Yours in service
Mrs. Farida Waziri (EFCC)Office Nigeria
Tel:+234-8054-377-171.
|
Anti-fraud resources:
