|
|
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:
- "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- 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.
- frankduchovny@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs. Rita Ibeh" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <frankduchovny@yahoo.com>
Date: Fri, 22 Jun 2012 22:33:44 -0700
Subject: You have a $550,000 compensation payment
Ministry of Foreign Affairs Federal Republic of Nigeria
Our Ref: FGN/MFA/2012/066147
Dear Sir/Madam,
This email is coming to you because we found out that you have once encountered financial losses through the internet by fraudsters and impostors who are basically from Nigeria and other parts of Africa, yet claiming to be what they are not and promising huge sums of money in return.
The Federal Government of Nigeria through its Compensation Committee has allocated $550,000 each as compensation for monetary losses and damages to every victim of internet scam.
You are required to contact our Chief Payment Officer with the following details for identification;
Full Names:
Occupation:
Phone Number:
Date of Birth:
Gender:
Address:
Country of Residence:
You have to contact him directly on this information below.
Chief Payment Officer, Compensation Award House
Name : Mr. Frank Duchovny
Email: frankduchovny@yahoo.com
You are advised to stop dealing with those people contacting you and telling you that your fund is with them or that they have a business proposal for you.
We sincerely apologize for all the damages you must have gone through in the hands of these fraudsters.
Yours sincerely,
Mrs. Rita Ibeh
(Public Relations Officer)
Compensation Department
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA)
Nigeria.
|
Anti-fraud resources:
