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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.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "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)
- "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned 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.
- goddyfax@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: James Peters <jump.cmc.james@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 2 May 2014 17:52:37 +0100
Subject: URGENT ATTENTION
UNION BANK PLC.
REMITTANCE DEPARTMENT
9TH FLOOR UNION BUILDING
39/40 ISLAND VICTORIA LAGOS.
TEL- 234-937292556
Hello Dear.
i am Mr James Philips the general manger remittance department of the above
bank.i am in changer of all foreign remittance and have about $10.5million
dollars to transfer to your account.the money has been moved out of my
bank.this money belong to one of of our client Mr Andy and he is late and
you bear the same last name with him thats why i contacted you.
i need your trust so we can move some fund into your account and you will
get 40% of the total amount while 1 and my assistance will get 70%as ,as
soon as this money gets to your account and you confirmed it,i will resign
and meet you up in country.this transaction is free risk.
if you need more details about this transaction get back to me and i will
furnish you with more information.it laid my heart to contact you and you
are capable to handle this transactions.
reply to this email.( goddyfax@gmail.com )
please even if you don't except my request please do not revile this to
any body.
i wait to hear from you very urgently.
best regard.
James Philips.
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