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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:
- 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:
- "cotonou" (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.
Fraud email example:
From: ATM CARD DELIVERY <wilsonturboi3@gmail.com>
Reply-To: ATM CARD DELIVERY <boaza@outlook.com>
Date: Fri, 5 Jun 2015 18:24:12 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Your fund $4.5 Million
Good day,
I am here to let you know that Head office is
about to cancel your transferring of $4.5 Million this morning just
Because of delaying and you know how much we spent in this transaction
already and i don't want both of us to loose the fund just because of
this fee then i try to paid all the needed fee.
And due to time
wasted and delaying since then, Head Office advised me to proceed
transferring the fund by wire transfer online Banking then we go ahead
and deposited your fund $4.5 Million to Bank Of Africa this morning
because that will be the best way of transferring your fund okay.
So
now you have nothing to do but contact us with your banking information
then you will have your fund transferred into your Given Bank Account
by yourself okay, you have nothing to do again rather contact us with
blow bank information, Please make sure that you send to us your bank
info as soon as receive this email because we have no more time to waste
before it will be late OK.
FOREIGN REMITTANCE TREASURY DEPARTMENT
Bank Of Africa Plc Benin Urgent Advice
55 BP 991 Cotonou, Benin Republic.
Office Line: +229-61 23 52 57
Mobile Line: +229-68 58 65 32.
Thanks and awaiting to hear from you as soon as you contact them thanks.
Manager
Your fund $4.5 Million
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