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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:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "please endeavor to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "huge amount of money" (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)
- ",000,000" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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 next of kin scam.
Fraud email example:
From: Maxwell Peter <maxwell-peter@lycos.com>
Date: Tue, 24 Mar 2015 07:58:09 -0500
Subject: URGENTLY
ATTENTION:
My name is Maxwell Peter. I work with one of the leading Banks here in Netherland Holland. I would need your consent to present you as the next of kin to our late customer who died during the Libya Uprising 2011. He was a wealthy man from Golf Region who deposited a huge amount of money the sum £46,000,000.00 in our Honorable Bank. He died without any registered of next of kin. as he was long divorced and had no child. I am his account officer and have in my possession all the documents required to present to you as his beneficiary next of kin. I contacted you because you have the same surname name and identity with our late client and can perfectly fit in as next of kin, We can work together to claim this fund. Please listen, this is real and goes on in Banks all over the world without people knowing. Let us utilize this opportunity because it does not come always. A lot of customers open private accounts with different Banks without the knowledge of their families and when they die, such money will be lost to the Bank unless someone comes to claim it. This is how a lot of Bank Directors make so much money silently.On your confirmation of this message and indicating your interest, I will furnish you with more details. Please endeavor to provide me with the following details so that we can discuss in details.
(1)mobile phone numbers
(2)full name
(3)contact address
(4)occupation
(5) Intl passport data page
I urgently hope to get your response as soon as possible.
Yours Sincerely.
Maxwell Peter
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Anti-fraud resources: