|
|
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:
- "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)
- "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.
- jamesandrewunitednationsoffice@yahoo.co.jp (Yahoo, Japan; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "UNITED NATIONS COMPENSATION COMMISSION (UNCC)" <officeunitednations@outlook.com>
Reply-To: jamesandrewunitednationsoffice@yahoo.co.jp
Date: Mon, 22 Sep 2014 20:04:04 +0800 (CST)
Subject: UNITED NATIONS COMPENSATION PAYMENT OF $5.5M USD TO YOU.(204.123)
FROM THE OFFICE OF MR.JAMES ANDREW
COORDINATOR,UNITED NATIONS COMPENSATION OFFICE LAGOS NIGERIA.
WIRE TRANSFER/AUDIT UNIT
Our Ref: WB/NF/UN/XX212/2014
EMAIL:jamesandrewunitednationsoffice@yahoo.co.jp
ATTN:SIR/MADAM
UNITED NATION COMPENSATION PAYMENT NOTICE:
This is to congratulate you for scaling through the hurdles of screening
by the Board of Directors of UN Compensation payment task force. The board
has approved the totaling sum of US$5.5M (Five Million Five Hundred
Thousand United States Dollars Only) each to a substantial number of
Nigerian/World Scam victims at any of the below Options; The options are
as follows:
* Bank To Bank Transfer.
* Diplomatic Cash Delivery Method.
* ATM Card.
* International Bank Draft.
* Online Transfer.
Note: That the payment is made on the basis of FIRST COME FIRST SERVE as
the pool of funds to draw from may not be sufficient to pay all Scammed
victims at the same time.
We look forward for your immediate response to this email
jamesandrewunitednationsoffice@yahoo.co.jp to enable us start the
necessary arrangement for the release of the funds to you.
Best regards.
MR.JAMES ANDREW.+234 817 003 5988.
(COORDINATOR, UNCC OFFICE LAGOS NIGERIA.)
|
Anti-fraud resources:
