|
|
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 state 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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "abuja" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "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.
Fraud email example:
From: "West African Anti-Corruption Unit" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <investigationd@yahoo.com>
Date: Sun, 14 Jun 2015 19:20:07 +0100
Subject: Advice: Stop On Going Transaction Immediately
West African Anti-Corruption Unit.
Anti-Fraud/Corruption Control.
11th Floor off Presidential Villa Aso- Rock
Abuja- Nigeria
Motto: Fight Against Corruption/Crime Investigation.
Tel+.
>From Desk of Mrs.Susan Seseko
Deputy: Mr. James Dobson.
We the West African Anti-Corruption Unit (WAAC) through our intelligence monitoring network has discovered that the transaction you did previously was legal.Recently the fund has been legally approved to be paid to you as the legal and rightful owner.
So, we the West African Anti-Corruption Unit (WAAC), in conjunction with the African Union Regulatry System (AURS), financial department will authorized you to contact the approved office for the release of your fund.
We are aware of scam that is going on internet ,We the West African Anti-Corruption Unit (WAAC) decided to contact a registered Courier Service Company in Lagos,Nigeria for them to give us their procedures on how to sent this money to you without any further complain or delay. We got an information from the remittance department and they have loaded your $7.5 (Seven Million, Five Hundred thousand united state dollars) in ATM MASTER DEBT CARD and will submit to a registered courier company upon your approval as the owner of the funds.
Kindly provide us with the required information for urgent and immediate registration with the registered courier company.
YOUR FULL NAME:...............................
YOUR ADDRESS:.................................
YOUR COUNTRY:.................................
YOUR AGE:.........................................
YOUR OCCUPATION:.................................
YOUR PHONE NUMBER:.............................
A COPY OF ATTACHED ID OR INT'L PASSPORT........................
I wait for your urgent respond.
Yours in Service
Mrs.Susan Seseko
Chairperson: West African Anti-Corruption Unit.
Deputy: Mr.James Dobson
|
Anti-fraud resources:
