|
|
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:
- ",000,000" (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)
- "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)
- 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.
- johnflint.vog@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "VICTORIA OIL & GAS PLC" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <johnflint.vog@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 4 Mar 2014 20:10:12 -0800
Subject: RESPOND WITH DETAILS ASAP
Good day
With due respect to you,I crave your indulgence for the unsolicited nature of this letter,it was borne out of desperation and current development on ground.
My name is John Fint,Assistant to the Commercial Manager (Martin Devine) of Victoria Oil& Gas, I seek your consent to help me receive the sum of US$9,000,000.00
This money was generated from over invoice in contract done last year in Logbaba. Unfortunately as a staff I cannot act as a subcontractor to my company in
receiving the fund.
I therefore decided to contact you to help me provide an account where this fund can be transferred into. We shall both share the funds at ratio of 60% for
me and 40% to you.
Please provide me with below information for further actions:
1. Name: .........
2. Address: ......
3. Tel: ..........
4. copy of Id:....
Best regards
John H Flint
Victoria Oil & Gas Ltd
Assistant to Commercial Manager
167 Crayford Road Crayford Kent DA1 4HD
My Fax: +448435592910
Email:johnflint.vog@gmail.com
|
Anti-fraud resources:
