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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:
- 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. )
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "center_atmdepartment@yahoo.fr" (this email address looks like addresses used in "ATM SWIFT card" scams)
- 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.
- center_atmdepartment@yahoo.fr (Yahoo, France; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "Dr.IKE DOMINIC." <johnperry0011@yahoo.fr>
Reply-To: center_atmdepartment@yahoo.fr
Date: Wed, 24 Aug 2011 19:35:21 +0100 (BST)
Subject: CONTACT Zenith Bank Plc,
CONTACT Zenith Bank Plc,
How are you together with your Family Today? Hope all is going normally, Dear our latest news to bring you today that the board managing of this bank has been approve all the necessary funds that was deposit to this bank to be Convert through ATM CARDS in which you can be easily received it through the Zenith Bank Atm Service here in Benin republic.
Meanwhile your funds $1.5000.000.00USD has been convert into the Atm Switch Cards which has been approve by the Government of Benin by which the Switch Card code of the funds are stated below (4008b56) which you can use to strut like about $2,500.00 per day to any ATM Bank nearest you in your Country.
So we have make the arrangement to the Atm Department here in Cotonou Benin Republic to deliver your Atm Card to your destination address which take under 2working days to be reach to your address, Meanwhile you have to Contact them immediately and the only money you have to send to received your Card from them is the processing fee $150.00 only to received your Card from the Department ok.
Here is thier Contact address and you can Contact them with below information;
Atm Payment Dept. Zenith Bank Plc Cotonou Benin Republic.
Director: Rev Dr. Isaac Momoh
Email :(center_atmdepartment@yahoo.fr)
Telephone: +229-995-229-09.
Contact them immediately and get back to us earlier once you get in touch with them ok below is what they need to deliver your Card to your address;
Your Full Name......
Country Locate........
Home address...........
Telephone................
Immediately you contact them you get back and let us know.
With Best Regards
Dr.IKE DOMINIC.
CONTACT THEM FOR YOUR ATM CARD $1.5000.000.00USD
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