|
|
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:
- "contract award committee" (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.
Fraud email example:
From: Chairman Foreign Payment And Contract Award Committee <intercontintalbankplc_inter@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: Chairman Foreign Payment And Contract Award Committee <pmarshd@yahoo.com.ph>
Date: Mon, 24 Mar 2014 05:42:40 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: SECRET?
Â
Attention: Sir,
I am Dr. Mrs. Christina Alabi the New Appointed Chairman for Foreign Payment and Contract Award Committee in Nigerian. I know this massage come as a surprise to you because you don’t know me and have never meet or communicate with you before but today to God be the glory that I have the opportunity to communicate with you.
I came into this office and see your file as an unpaid file do you know reason why you have not received your fund? I know you will not know but please can you keep this SECRET? If you can then I would like to invert you to Nigeria so I will take you to the office of presidency for you to discuses one on one to Mr. President he will help you receive your fund without any further delay but you cannot come and still want his help then send your identification of proof, your phone number and your contract/inheritance sum I will forward it to office of presidency.
Thanks for your understanding as I hope to hear from you immediately you receive this message.
Yours faithfully,
Dr. Mrs. Christina Alabi
Chairman Foreign Payment
And Contract Award Committee
|
Anti-fraud resources:
