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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:
- "the consignment" (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)
- "trunk box" (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)
- "consignment " (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)
- "trunk boxes" (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)
- "my direct telephone number" (a "direct line" in a scam usually means an untraceable mobile phone number used by a scammer in an internet cafe, a redirection service number that forwards to a mobile or a free voicemailbox in a different country.)
- "a diplomat " ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- 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.
- ncyhote@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs.Nancy Holten" <queenabbasq1@gmail.com>
Reply-To: ncyhote@gmail.com
Date: Sun, 29 Nov 2015 12:38:42 +0100
Subject:
Inspection Unit.
Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport.
Dear ,
I am Mrs.Nancy Holten Director Inspection Unit United Nations Inspection
Agent in Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport Texas. I discovered An
abandoned shipment from a Diplomat and when scanned it revealed an
undisclosed sum of money in two Metal Trunk Boxes weighing approximately
110kg each. The consignment was abandoned because of the Diplomats
inability to pay for Non Inspection Fees. On my assumption, each of the
boxes will contain more than $3 to $4M each and the consignment is still
left in storage house till today.
The details of the consignment including your name in the official document
from United Nation office in London are tagged on the Metal Trunk box.
Do Provide your Phone and Fax Number Email and full address, name of
nearest Airport around and other details . You can send the required
details to me for onward delivery.
All communication must be held extremely confidential. I can get everything
concluded within 3-6 hours upon your acceptance and proceed to your address
for delivery.
But I must get assurance from you concerning my 50% before I will proceed.
I want us to transact this business and share the money, since the shippers
have abandoned it and ran away. I will arrange for the boxes to be moved
out of this Airport to your address, I will bring it by myself to avoid any
more trouble. But you have to assure me of my 50%. You can also come over
to Texas. And I will direct your on what to do. Below are my direct
telephone numbers and I wait to hear from you.
Mrs.Nancy Holten
Inspection Officer.
E-mail: ncyhote@gmail.com
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