|
|
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.
- 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.
- masumabdullah@aol.com (AOL; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. Masud Abdullah" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <masumabdullah@aol.com>
Date: Tue, 13 Nov 2012 13:11:06 +0100
Subject: YOU MUST RECEIVE YOUR FUNDS
Our Ref: RTB /SNT/STB
To. Beneficiary.
ATTENTION
I am Special Agent Mr. Masud Abdullah and am here in Europe as an Special Agent delegate that has been delegated to investigate these fraudsters who are in the business of swindling Foreigners that came for transaction in Europe.
Please be informed that during my investigation, I got to find out that there is a huge sum of $10.5million that has been assigned in your name (as a Beneficiary.) and these fraudsters are busy swindling you without any hope of receiving your fund.
NOTE: You are not suppose to pay that hug amount from the beginning before the release of your fund can commence .These are the works of the fraudsters who needed to extort money from you in the name of this transfer.
We have to inform you that we have made some arrested in respect of this delayed over due fund. I have a very limited time to stay in Europe here so I advise you urgently respond to this message .
I shall expect your response as soon as you receive this email. Please Remember that this operation or the exercise need to be concealed so that these criminals will be caught unaware and we don’t want them to know this new development to avoid jeopardizing our investigation.
Best Regard,
Mr. MASUD ABDULLAH (Senior Officer)
masumabdullah@aol.com
SPECIAL FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION EURIPIAN DIVISION
INVESTIGATION ON ALL ONLINE WIRE TRANSFER
|
Anti-fraud resources:
