|
|
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:
- "central bank of nigeria" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: ATM CARD PAYMENT UNIT <samsonnurudeen32@virgilio.it>
Reply-To: drsamsonnurudeen@virgilio.it
Date: Tue, 18 Oct 2011 16:57:47 +0200 (CEST)
Subject: Your Visa card payment is ready
From: Dr .Chris Mathew
Operations Manager
E-Banking Unit
Central Bank of
Nigeria
Re: Contract/Beneficiary Payment.
This is to inform you that your
payment has been approved this Morning through HSBC Debit Card. You are
operating a CBN account. The visa card is valid for Two years which all
statement will be sent to you and also to us. As soon as you download the
loaded funds, the card becomes invalid. You can check your balance at any ATM
using your pin number
. All you have to do is to fill the Debit Card
Application form and email back to me; the form should be sent to E-Banking
Unit so that your visa card will be processed. It takes 24hrs or 48hrs to be
processed immediately the application is received.
Attached is the visa card
application form which you are obliged to fill and get back to me. Clearly
state your cell phone, fax number and delivery address where you want the card
to be delivered to you either through FedEx, UPS or DH L. Due to security
reasons Please indicate this code, which is (CBN/FGN448). You have to indicate
this code when contacting the E-Banking Unit.
Yours Faithfully,
Dr .Chris
Mathew
Operations Manager.
YOUR VISA CARD IS READY
|
Anti-fraud resources:
