|
|
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:
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "intercontinentalatm@live.co.uk" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a fake lottery scam. Consider the following facts about real lotteries:
- They don't notify winners by email.
- You can't win without first buying a lottery ticket.
- They don't randomly select email addresses to award prizes to.
- They don't use free email accounts (Yahoo, Hotmail, etc) to communicate with you.
- They don't tell you to call a mobile phone number.
- They don't tell you to keep your winnings secret.
- They will never ask a winner to pay any fees to receive a prize!
Fraud email example:
From: MRS ROSEMARY ANDERSON <Rosemaryanderson99@gmail.com>
Reply-To: intercontinentalatm@live.co.uk
Date: Fri, 10 May 2013 13:42:08 +0200
Subject: CONGRATULATION YOU ARE HEREBY ADVICE TO CONTACT MR HANS BRUCE
+00447031740551
SHELL PETROLEUM DEVELOPMENT COMPANY {SPDC} IN COLLABRATION WITH
AMERICAN TOBACCO COMPANY UNITED KINGDOM.
80 Strand London WC2R 0ZA
United Kingdom
Pin: 50006, Winning no: KB8701
CONGRATULATIONS!!!
OFFICIAL WINNING NOTIFICATION
Dear winner,
Winner in the 2nd category of our Shell Management free Net
promotional award draws held on 8th May 2013. I am writing in respect
to your award winning prize of £900,000.00 Pounds (Nine Hundred
Thousand Pound Only) which you won through the email ballot draws in
our Shell Management promotion award in 8th May 2013 in the second
category prize winnings category.
We wish to inform you that your total prize money of £900,000.00
Pounds has been returned to us by our claims delivery company as
unclaimed prize after their initial letter to your address for your
award payment was not successful. You are hereby requested to contact
our Treasury Bank Officer paying bank with the information below:
Mr.Hans Bruce for your immediate award payment.
You are here by requested to contact our Paying Bank Treasury Officer
on his email address below for you r immediate payment.
Treasury officer's name: Mr. Hans Bruce
Bank Name: Intercontinental Bank Plc United Kingdom
Email: intercontinentalatm@live.co.uk
Tel: +00447031740551
So refer this to him and contact him immediately for your unclaimed
lotto prize payment to you.
You should contact our Paying Bank Treasury Officer as directed above
for your payment, and do notify me as soon as you received your
payment from our Treasurer.
Please note: You have to reconfirm your full details to him such as:
1. Name in full:…………………………………..
2. Address:…………………………………………..
3. Nationality:…………………………………………
4. Age/Sex:…………………………………………………….
5. Occupation:……………………………………………….
6. Phone/Fax:………………………………………………….
7. Present Country:………………………………………………
Thanks,
Mrs. Susan Molar (President; Int'l Promotion Award Org.)
ANY BREACH OF CONFIDENTIALITY ON THE PART OF THE WINNERS WILL RESULT TO
DISQUALIFICATION. WINNING RESULT MUST BE KEPT SECRET TO AVOID DOUBLE
CLAIM WHICH WILL RESULT TO YOUR LOST OF PACKAGE.
|
Anti-fraud resources:
