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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
- 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.
- agentalexrafael71@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Barrister Kumar Edward <messagefolder1@yahoo.pt>
Reply-To: Barrister Kumar Edward <agentalexrafael71@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 1 Feb 2015 06:23:34 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: Attention: Dear Client/ Your Fund Delivered
 Attention: Dear Client/ Your Fund Delivered
Good morning Dear friend, I write to inform you that your fund worth of $5.2M has been accredited into ATM Master Card and i have registered it with the delivery company to bring it to your home address. The delivery Company Agent has left with your ATM Card package yesterday. The name of the Agent carrying your fund is Agent Alex Rafael. The Company just call me saying that the Agent has been calling your telephone number while because he misplace your address. The Agent is now in United State at the airport waiting to hear from you, please quickly forward your complete mailing address to the Agent and your current telephone number to enable him proceed to your address and deliver your ATM Card package to you.
Immediately you receive your ATM Card you should go to any ATM paying Machine and start withdrawal because your ATM Card Account has been activated already before the delivery. Here is your ATM Withdrawal PIN CODE (51-70) and remember that you can only withdraw $10 000 per day and that is the programmed limit of your ATM Master Card.
Very important, quickly forward your home address/ Telephone numbers to Agent Alex so that he can continue the deliver to your address. He is waiting at the airport there in America, so please do this immediately you receive this letter.
Contact person: Agent Alex Rafael
Email Address:Â agentalexrafael71@gmail.com
Immunity Tag xxxxx546 TNT&Co
Contact him now and send your address your full information to avoid wrong delivery of your fund to another person.
I will be waiting for your urgent responds as soon as possible.
Congratulations, waiting to hear from you soon.
Barrister Kumar Edward
Edward & Associate
ADM.ADVOCATE LEVEL-16
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Anti-fraud resources: