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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:
- "activation fee" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "dormant account" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
- 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.
- evergreenfederalbnkusa@financier.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Very Urgent !" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <evergreenfederalbnkamerica@financier.com>
Date: Sun, 4 May 2014 15:53:46 -0700
Subject: Winning Payment Advice
FBI POST
Divisional Office
PORTLAND - OREGON
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
Your Outstanding Winning Fund,
My name is Michael Pilchta, FBI agent,i work with Ever Green Federal Bank USA at Portland-Oregon USA.View attached passport and ID for your perusal. I write to inform you that British Deposit Insurance Incorporation(BDII) has given a telex Wire instruction to Ever Green Federal Bank of USA to transfer outstanding winning payment of $5.5million to your private bank account. However, the account where your fund was deposited has been dormant and you are requested to re-activate the account in order to transfer fund to any of your choice private bank account without hitch or delay.
You are hereby requested to contact the bank and first of all verify online status of your dormant account and how much it will cost you to re-activate account in order transfer fund to your private bank account without hitch.I want to make this clear to you, that activation fee is refundable to your principal fund and cannot be deducted because account is dormant. Therefore contact Ever Green Federal Bank of USA immediately on below detail for verification and re-activation of account.
Contact Mr. Jeffrey Hyde or Ms. Sheila Sabin at email below:
Email Address: evergreenfederalbnkusa@financier.com
Tel: (+1) 541-230-5067
You have 100% assurance and guarantee to receive fund successfully as soon as account is re-activated.
Yours In Service,
Michael Pilchta.
FBI Agent in Charge.
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