|
|
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:
- "united state of america" (this email uses bad English)
- "god fearing " (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Holiday <info@imp.gor>
Reply-To: info@iunitednationsambassados.tk
Date: Sun, 26 Feb 2012 18:19:57 +0000
Subject: URGENT RESPONSE FROM THE UNITED NATION
REPUBLIC OF GHANA
UNITED NATION ORGANIZATION
P O BOX 2340, ACCRA GHANA
Dear Beneficiary
Good day, sorry to disturb you at this moment but it will be of an great help to you as soon as you go through this message of benefit, I am the United Nations Regional Head for Refugees here in Accra Ghana, am passing this information to you that the Member of the Parliament is looking for God fearing person who can be the Ambassador /Emissary to the African refugees, the meeting was held some few days ago in the castle House in OSU (President Office) and it happen that your name has been nominated to be the Ambassador/Emissary for the African Refugees.
All you have to do now is to forward the following details to us immediately:
Full Name:
Home/Office Address/Postal Address:
Mobile/Office/Home Telephone Number:
Photo-copy of Identification:
With all the above following details/minutiae will be pass onto to the United Nation Head Office in United State of America and United Kingdom, so that United Nation Head Office in both ends can put your name in the registration book for this appointment and send you an Official letter regarding this appointment: The United Nations Regional Head Accra-Ghana hereby wait to hear from you as soon as possible. You can send your email
Yours Faithfully
Dr. Kwamina Bartels
The Regional Head West Africa
United Nation Organization
Accra Ghana.
|
Anti-fraud resources:
