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joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
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"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:
- "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 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.
- kaberukadonald595@yahoo.com.hk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK GROUP" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <crolyndaniels1@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Sat, 25 Jan 2014 09:13:49 -0600
Subject: SPECIAL DIRECTIVE
Dear beneficiary of this delayed fund,
Central Bank of Nigeria and other commercial Banks in Europe have been ordered to stop your payment due to their fraudulent activities. The Special Investigative Panel on Abandoned Funds have expressed their displeasure over that endless transaction you have entered with those Banks with constant demand for more money, yet without positive conclusion. Please be advised that your payment would henceforth be made to you via a reliable and efficient Bank. Contact the President of African Development Bank Group, Dr. Donald Kaberuka through the following email address (kaberukadonald595@yahoo.com.hk) for further directive.
Yours faithfully,
Bar. Carolyn Daniels (LLB.Hons)
Senior Partner (Legal)
African Development Bank Group.
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Anti-fraud resources: