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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:
- 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:
- "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. )
- "remain blessed" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- This email message is a "New Partner from Paraguay" scam.
- 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.
- vancejohn36@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Rev Bello Emmanuel." <emmanueleric65@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: vancejohn36@yahoo.com
Date: Tue, 10 Apr 2012 15:39:38 +0530 (IST)
Subject: Hello good friend,
Hello good friend,
I am Rev Bello Emmanuel.and I am very happy to inform you about my success
in getting that fund transferred. Now I want you to contact my secretary
Mr. Emmanuel Eric on his email address below and receive your compensation
of $3.500.000.00USD dollars from him;
Name:Mr. John Vance
Email: vancejohn36@yahoo.com
Phone: +234 8165539710
Kindly reconfirm to him the following below information;
Your full name__________________
Your address_________________________
Your country_________________________
Your age_____________________________
Your occupation______________________
Your Phone number___________________
Your Sex female_____________________________
Note that if you did not send him the above information complete, he will
not release the cheque to you because he has to be sure that it is you.
Remain blessed,
Rev Bello Emmanuel.
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