|
|
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:
- "claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
- "million dollars" (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)
- "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.
- 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.
- atm234@hotmail.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "ATM DEBIT Card" <atm@atm.com>
Reply-To: atm234@hotmail.co.uk
Date: Sun, 24 Mar 2013 09:04:04 +0800
Subject: Good New Alert
ATTENTION BENEFICIARY:
This is to officially inform you that (ATM DEBIT Card Number 5951390123652671)Has been
accredited with your Favour,Your Personal Identification Number is 2397.The ATM DEBIT
CARD Value is $6.8 MILLION USD.Six point eight million dollars. You are advised to
contact our claims agent for delivery of your won ATM DEBIT CARD credited with $6.8
MILLION USD.Six point eight million dollars.As soon as possible:contact the Atm card
payment CENTRE and also send the following information to our claims agent for him to
instruct you on how your won money can get to you,This card centre will send you an ATM
DEBIT CARD which you will use to withdraw your money in any Atm machine in any part of
the world, But the maximum is $300 Thousand dollars per day Contact.
Mr.Samuel Balogun
TEL:+234 810 6468 480
Email:atm234@hotmail.co.uk
Fill The Following Information.
FULL NAME:
AGE:
SEX:
DELIVERY ADDRESS:
PHONE NUMBER:
COUNTRY:
OCCUPATION:
WINNING EMAIL:
Once again i say Congratulation
BEST REGARDS,
Lamido Sanusi.
Governor Central Bank of Nigeria.
|
Anti-fraud resources:
