|
|
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:
- "tax fee" (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. )
- "united state of america" (this email uses bad English)
- "dear beneficiary," (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
- 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.
- compensationagent1996@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Agent Gabriel Lens" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <compensationagent1996@yahoo.fr>
Date: Sat, 9 Mar 2013 09:34:37 +0100
Subject: GOOD NEWS....THIS MESSAGE IS FROM THE INTERPOL.
Interpol Headquarters
1 Interpol Plaza Washington,USA
Tel: 206-259-9133
Dear Beneficiary,
It has come to my knowledge that your over-due contract/Inheritance/Winning sum placed on HOLD by the United State
Government due to lack of proper documentations will be released to your within 24hrs from now. This latest development is due to the exit of former US Treasury Secretary Mr. Timothy Geithner.
The fund in the value of $4,520.000.00 (Four million Five Hundred and twenty thousand) with the Federal Reserve Bank will be ready for transfer as soon as you pay for the Income Duty Tax fee of $320.00 only to MrS.Sandra Riney in United State of America. Agent Riney will get the duty income tax fee paid on your behalf to the IRS office and then the Federal Reserve Bank will transfer your fund to your Bank Account.
In response to this email kindly provide your bank account and if you wish for an electronic card payment(Atm Card) it will be arranged for you.Your are therefore advise to send the below details to my secured
email.
FULL NAME:
HOME ADDRESS:
MOBILE AND HOME TELEPHONE:
Send your response to my secure email (compensationagent1996@yahoo.fr)
Call me as soon as you get this email.
Yours sincerely,
Agent.Gabriel Lens
Interpol Investigator
Washington,USA.
|
Anti-fraud resources:
