|
|
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.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "million united states 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)
- "hundred thousand united states 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)
- "high court" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "federal high court" (This court is often mentioned in '419' scams to give the victim a reason why he/she should send thousands of dollars to the scammers. A 'Federal High Court' exists in Germany and Nigeria, but not in other countries, such as the UK, Spain, Netherlands, Senegal, Benin, South Africa or other countries where fake lawyers in scams often claim to be based. )
- "abuja" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "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 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.
- omeremearld1@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "omer.emearld8" <omer.emearld8@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 6 Aug 2014 02:11:33 -0700
Subject: Congratulations once again on your listing!
This is to notify you about a current payment approval linked to your email
address and name in the Federal Ministry of Finance payment file! As we
would like to process, please confirm forthwith and accept our
congratulations for your successful listing!
I am the Executive Director of Finance in the Federal Ministry of Finance
(FMF) Lagos with Head Office in Abuja. While going through the list of
untreated International Contract/Inheritance Files for the 2013 Financial
Year ended, I discovered that your name and email address are linked to the
payment of $4.2 Million United States Dollars (Four Million Two Hundred
Thousand United States Dollars Only) in Next of Kin Approval! Since the
discovery my office has officially verified that this fund can be paid to
you and our payment computed issued a green light! Congratulations once
again!
Next of Kin Approval - NKA means that the original contractor or
beneficiary is no longer available or has not been heard of by the contract
payment office for a period of 3 years despite all attempts to reach him.
In line with FMF Financial Act 1999, it is the duty of the board of my
office to sit and award the uncollected fund to a Next of Kin beneficiary
who must be a foreign trustee because the original contractor was foreign.
Henceforth, my office is glad to inform you that you have been awarded the
sum of $4.2 Million in Next of Kin Contract/Inheritance Approval and it
will be processed in your name. Confirm this payment approval notice for
your payment the guidelines and be rest assured that the treatment of this
matter shall be highly accelerated to ensure that the fund is released
forthwith.
There is a standard legal confirmation on this payment obtained at the
Federal High Court with the sum of $481 to enable my office prepare a
payment application and authority to remit letters to our bankers in your
favour.
This payment is scheduled to be completed within this second financial
quarter.
Congratulations once again on your listing!
Sincerely,
DR. OMAR EMERALD
Executive Director Finance FMF
E-mail omeremearld1@yahoo.com
+2348133192689
The above confidential communication is the property of the sender and for
the sole attention and consumption of the addressee only, if receive by
error please delete immediately or return to sender via email then delete.
Thanks.
|
Anti-fraud resources:
