|
|
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.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "the consignment" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "consignment " (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "a diplomat " ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- 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.
- serviceups244@yahoo.fr (Yahoo, France; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "Dr. Gilbert Ford" <raahgatinha.linda5@gmail.com>
Reply-To: serviceups244@yahoo.fr
Date: Sun, 17 Mar 2013 03:37:24 -0800
Subject: Consignment Box
Dearest beneficiary,
I am happy to inform you that I have been able to work out a new way to
which you will receive your $2.5 Million as parcel and as it may interest
you to know I have been able to get in contact with Central Bank Of Benin
to help us cash the check. Right now it is in a cash Box / Consignment.
And I have been able to get in contact with a Diplomat who is going to
deliver the Consignment to your door step and as I made the plan he will be
delivering the Consignment to you and the content of the Consignment will
be the total US $2.5 Million in cash AS IT WAS BEFORE, although I did not
revel to him about the content of the Consignment because I simply told him
that the content of the Consignment is your personal belongings/ family
valuables.
Consignment still with him but we want to inform you to know if the
arrangement is good for you before we can submit the information for be
delivery. Remember the Consignment will be registered as family valuables
for security reasons under security monitoring department with a seal on it
for security reasons, so do not allow them to know the real content until
you receive it.
According to the management of the dispatching Company this afternoon he
said that you can find the code number on the Consignment, there is a place
in it they will wrote (TRP16), when you open it through that side you will
see the code to open the Consignment Box, so contact the Company today on
this information bellow:
Therefore at this point I wish to know your readiness to receive your fund
as you will be required to reconfirm your receiving address once more and
forward to the Company so that I will make sure that I gave them your
correct address to avoid any mistake about the delivery. They also told me
that you will be required to pay for the delivery of the parcel for a
little rate amount of money which will only cost you $198 dollar.
Company Name is United Parcel Service (UPS) Security Department.
Contact Person: Mr Terry Cole
Email: serviceups244@yahoo.fr
Tel/Fax +2348035520173
Note; your Consignment will be register as family valuables
Remember they will ask you for this followings:
Your Full Name................
Your Home Address.............
Your current Phone Numbers ..........
You’re Cell Numbers...............
You personal identification............
Also I want to remind you that no body will tamper the parcel until it gets
to your destination. Waiting to hear from you soon about this and don’t
fail to indicate your direct and current phone number as well.
Thanks and best regards.
Dr. Gilbert Ford
|
Anti-fraud resources:
