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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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:
- "security keeping fee" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "million united states 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)
- ",000,000" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- 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.
- mr.adambenson11@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "MR ADAM BENSON" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mr.adambenson11@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 29 Jun 2011 21:57:57 -0700
Subject: I STILL HAVE YOUR (ATM-CARD) WITH ME RIGHT NOW !!
ATM CARD PAYMENT NOTIFICATION
OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR OF OPERATION
INTERNATIONAL CREDIT SETTLEMENT,
ATTENTION HONORABLE BENEFICIARY.
We receive an email that you are dead and you ask one Albert R J Pitre to come and claim your ATM Card of US$10,000,000.00 (Ten million united states dollars. Your ATM Card that has been with us since 1 month now, so I am writing you to know if you are (DEAD OR ALIVE), if you do not reply back before 48hrs we will have no other alternative that to believe that are truly dead according to Albert R J Pitre. You only need to pay $350 for Security keeping fee only..
If you are still alive you can get back to us as fast as you can or you can call me on my phone take note that every thing has been paid for it is just for the Security fee that this Albert R J Pitre has agreed to pay for if you refuse to get back to us.
Am afraid we shall give him the ATM Card and collect the money from him and he will sign on your behalf and claim your ATM Card that means that he is right that you are dead and you ask him to come and claim the ATM Card on your behalf.
WE HAVE WITH US A SCAN COPY OF THE ID CARD?
Please take note that you have been given just 48hrs to get back to us so that we can know if you are alive, and fill the Information Below.
Name and Surname:
Driver License and Age:
House Address:
Phone Number and Occupation:
Email: mr.adambenson11@gmail.com
THE TRUTH ABOUT YOUR ATM CARD
We await your swift response in regard of this email we have received from Albert R J Pitre Regards.
Regards.
MR ADAM BENSON.
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Anti-fraud resources: