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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:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "clearance certificate" (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. )
- "clearance certificate" (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. )
- "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "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: "MR JAMES GOODMAN JR" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mrjamesgoodmanjr201@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 24 Sep 2002 17:45:37 -0700
Subject: DIRECTOR ATM SWIFT CARD CONSULTANT (CBN)
FROM THE DESK OF
MR JAMES GOODMAN JR
DIRECTOR SWIFT CARD CONSULTANT (CBN)
Attention: Beneficiary,
I am MR JAMES GOODMAN JR , Director ATM Swift Card Consultant Central
Bank of Nigeria. I decided to contact you because of the prevailing
security report reaching my office and the intense nature of polity in
Nigeria. This is to inform you about our plan to send your fund to you
by ATM SWIFT CARD Delivery; this system will be easier for you and us,
We are going to send your contract part payment of US$15.5 Million to
you via courier service I have secured every needed documents to cover
the money.
Note: The Money is coming on ATM SWIFT CARD, this ATM SWIFT CARD are
sealed with Synthetic nylon seal and padded with machine. I will use
my position as The SWIFT CARD CONSULTANT DIRECTOR, CBN to release this
fund to you. The ATM SWIFT CARD is coming with a Courier agent who
will accompany the ATM CARD to your house address. All you need to do
now is to send to me the following information's below:
1. Your full house address.........
2. Your identity such as, international passport or driver's
license.............
3. Your contact phone numbers.....and fax......
4. Your full name..........and age...........
5. Your occupation..........
The Courier Agents attached will travel with this required
information's for the delivery of your fund. He will call you
immediately he arrives in your country airport. I hope you understand
me. I will let you know when the ATM SWIFT CARD will be Dispatch. And
Note: The Agent does not know the original contents of the Pace l.
What declared to them as the contents is Photographic Picture.
I did not declare ATM CARD to them please. If they call you and Ask
you the contents please tell them the same thing okay. Call me
immediately and I will let you know how far I have gone with the
arrangement. I will secure the clearance Certificate that will be
tagged on the Pace l which I will dispatch along with the security PIN
CODE of the ATM SWIFT CARD to enable you access the fund as soon as it
delivered to you. This clearance will make it pass every custom
checkpoint all over the world without hitch. Confirm the receipt of
this message and send the requirements to me immediately you receive
this message. Please I need your urgent reply because the ATM SWIFT
CARD will be dispatch to you as soon as we hear from you. Call me
immediately you receive this message.
Best Regard
MR JAMES GOODMAN JR
DIRECTOR ATM SWIFT CARD CONSULTANT (CBN)
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