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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:
- "power of attorney" (with your bank details and a power of attorney form criminals sometimes empty bank accounts)
- "abuja" (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.
- Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
Fraud email example:
From: FEDERAL MINISTRY OF FINANCE <test@funkidscups.com>
Reply-To: gm@ledspectrumthai.com
Date: Mon, 28 Sep 2015 22:47:42 +0000
Subject: RE:
--
FEDERAL MINISTRY OF FINANCE
OFFICE OF THE MINISTER OF FINANCE
FEDERAL MINISTRY OF FINANCE, HEADQUARTERS,
AHMADU
BELLO WAY, CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT
ABUJA, NIGERIA
RE: PAYMENT NOTIFICATION / FINAL ORDER.
In line with the directives from the Office of Presidency to the Newly
Appointed Management Team/ Board of the Nigerian National Petroleum
Corporation (NNPC) to release all Unpaid/Outstanding Foreign
Contractors Contract Payments.
This is to officially draw your attention of your unclaimed contract
payment with the Federal Government and Authorization has been passed
to pay your contract payment.
Following the Federal Government Directives and Authorization to pay
your overdue contract payment, a lot of irregularities were
found/attached to your contract payment file.
(1) Did you at any time delegate any person to claim your contract
payment on your behalf?
(2) Were you involved in a motor accident?
(3) Are you aware or related to one Mr. Thomas Mick from your country
who filed in contract payment claims on your behalf before Federal
Government Directives and Authorization?
Please reconfirm and answer the above questions. Your contract payment
file has an application of claims on your behalf from Mr. Thomas Mick
to release your contract payment of US$52.7M into a bank account with
the Union Bank of Switzerland (UBS). Account number UBS-A943BDG99 with
the report that you are now paralyzed as a result of the ghastly motor
accident occurred last month.
Following the official protocols, you are to forward to us a copy of
your Power of Attorney authorizing Mr. Thomas Mick to effect the
contract payment on your behalf as requested.
Thanks for your co-operation
Best Regard
Fred Wilson
Secretary to the Minister of Finance
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