|
|
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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "transferred into your bank account" (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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: albert ojukwu <auocentre3@outlook.com>
Reply-To: <aojukwu147@hotmail.com>
Date: Sun, 31 Aug 2014 11:38:29 +0000
Subject:
Dear Friend,
I am informing you now that i want to transfer the sum of $25million into your bank account and we will share the fund together,the fund will be transferred into your bank account as soon as you send these requirement ,they are your full names and address,your phone number and a copy of your passport or identity card.
I will transfer the fund to your account as fast as you send me the information and i want you to keep this transaction confidential so that the fund will be invested confidentially in your country,as you may likely want to know me i am Chief Albert Ojukwu,a senior official with the Nigerian Financial Development Corporation(NFDC).
I will come to your country to see you and do not do any business with anybody from Nigeria or Africa as a whole so that the fund will be paid into your bank account within 48hours of assurance.
I want you to promise me that you will not be betray me when i transfer the fund to your bank account because we staffs of the Nigerian Financial Development Corporation are not allow to operate foreign bank accounts or investment while in office and that is why i need your assistance to transfer the fund into your bank account within 48hours .
Thanks for your cooperation and i am waiting for your reply.
Chief Albert Ojukwu.
|
Anti-fraud resources:
