|
|
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.
- 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:
- "million pounds" (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)
- "you are advise to" (this email uses bad English)
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
- 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 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.
- +447024067206 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
- 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.
- oneworldcourier@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: ***Black Berry Mobile*** <m.lelkens@upcmail.nl>
Reply-To: oneworldcourier@gmail.com
Date: Thu, 7 Jul 2011 8:46:32 +0200
Subject: =?utf-8?Q?You_Have_Won_The_Sum_of_=C2=A31,000.000.00?=
--
You Have Won The Sum of £1,000.000.00 (ONE MILLION POUNDS STERLING) from Black Berry Online Lottery Promo held in United Kingdom,You are advise to contact our assigned Courier Company (One World Courier Company) With the detail below as Your Winning Certificate and Your winning Cheque have been forwarded to then for immediate delivery.
Below is the detail of the Courier Company
Dispatch Officer:Mr.Frank Benald.
Tel:+4470-2406-7206
Email:oneworldcourier@gmail.com
PLEASE MAKE SURE THIS VERIFICATION FORM IS FILLED PROPERLY AND FORWARD TO THE ASSIGNED COURIER FOR IMMEDIATE DELIVERY OF YOUR PRIZE.
VERIFICATION AND FUNDS RELEASE FORM
1.FULL NAMES:________2.ADDRESS:__________3.COUNTRY____________
4.SEX:_______5.AGE:________6.OCCUPATION:__________7.TEL:__________
Yours faithfully,
Mrs Christina Beery
Online -Co.ordinator Black Berry Mobile Lottery Promo ©2011
|
Anti-fraud resources: