|
|
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.
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Secretary-General of the United Nations" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <untiednation@yahoo.es>
Date: Sun, 25 May 2014 04:45:16 +0800
Subject: Good News!!!!!!!!!!!!
We wish to inform you that the United Nations Organization (UN) has
taking over your long lasting overdue payment issue in which you
Presently have with your transaction agents. Your funds were withdrawn
by UN on your behalf based on the fact that you where subjected to too
Many process that will make you spend more money before receiving your
Funds. Your payment has been taken over by the United Nations
Organization, we are putting up every facility in place to make sure you
Receive your funds in good faith with any further delay.
NB: You have been strictly advised to stop every form of communication in respect of
your payment
With any of those so called agent or officer as they may call themselves. they are
all but thief and scammers,
For some security
reasons, we need you to reconfirm your
Personal data's
Full Names**
Sex**
Age**
Occupation**..
Contact Address**
Country**
Telephone Number**
Before receiving any further directives/instructions for the immediate release
of your funds you are expected to reconfirm your details as you can find above to
Convince us that you are the right person
Yours truly
Ban Ki-moon
|
Anti-fraud resources:
