|
|
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:
- "you are advice to " (this email uses bad English)
- 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.
- fundmonitors01@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs. Blessing" <mrsblessingokoh@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: fundmonitors01@yahoo.com
Date: Tue, 21 Aug 2012 06:58:37 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: FUND RELEASE...............
Barclays Bank PLC
1 Churchill Place
London, E14 5HP , United Kingdom
This is a receipt confirmation in Barclays Bank of United Kingdom
coming from International Communities in your favour, Please note that
your approved sum in the amount of US$10Million Only has placed on hold
in this office for final official vetting before your fund will be
released from this Bank to any of your authorized Bank account in
writting.To execute the final clearance of your remittance, You are
required to reconfirm as follows:
1) Full Name and Official Mailing Address
2) Direct Telephone and Fax numbers
Once we receive the complete information from you .We shall vet your
payment and thereafter release your fund without any further delay, In
addition send us a copy of your International Passport or any other
certified ID for in identification to avoid wrong payment.
You are advice to contact this office with the bellow information:
Contact Name: Mr. Chelsea J. Henderson.
Email: fundmonitors01@yahoo.com
We are sorry for any inconveniency and resources you must have experienced in the course of your payment.
Yours Sincerely
Mrs. Blessing Okoh
|
Anti-fraud resources:
