|
|
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:
- "processing 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. )
- "fund beneficiary" (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 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.
- 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.
- bafricandevelopment98@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK" <mrskoffi@afdb.org>
Reply-To: mrsanita@one.co.il
Date: Thu, 4 Aug 2011 20:19:12 -0300 (BRT)
Subject: Attention Fund Beneficiary
From Desk of Mrs. Koffi .Jacques
The Vice President
African Development Bank,
No 120 Tinubu Square
(www.afdb.org)
Attention Fund Beneficiary
This is to bring to your notice that your fund which was to be transfer
you is still pending here in our bank for a long time now is ready for
transfer to you all you need to do is to fill out this attached form and
return back to us with the form processing fee of $150 as stated therein
on the form if after five bank working days we didn’t hear from you the
fund will be confiscated take note and act fast why sending you this
email your email was indicated as the bona fide beneficiary note you are
not to payment and transfer fee all you need to do is to contact the Telex
Director Dr James Lars on this email : bafricandevelopment98@yahoo.com
Contac phone +234 8163104 206
Yours truly,
Mrs Koffi Jacques
Vice President
African Development Bank
|
Anti-fraud resources:
