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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:
- "clearance document" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- ",500,000" (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)
- "very confidential" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "pshipton101@outlook.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- 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.
- pshipton@europe.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Peter Shipton <pshipton@europe.com>
Reply-To: pshipton101@outlook.com
Date: Mon, 05 Sep 2016 20:15:10 +0800
Subject: can you handleit?
Good day
I sincerely apologize for contacting you without prior knowledge of
who you are. I need you to help me receive money from a bank. The
money involved is $2,500,000.00. I will give you 10% of the money if
you can help me receive the money.I need a foreign partner and a
competent hand that can receive the fund on my behalf and help me
invest it if possible. I have no intention of bringing my share of the
money back to London. I will love to invest my share of the money in
your country if you will accept to partner with me in any business
that will yield good money for us.
send me the following details if you can handle the business so we can
proceed.
Full names:
City:
Contact Address:
Cell phone:
Occupation:
Marital status:
Age:
Once I get the details, I will apply to the bank to release the
$2,500,000.00 to your bank account which you will provide to the bank
later when they demand for it. Once the money is transferred into your
account, the bank will send you all necessary clearance documents
through courier which you can present to your bank or regulatory
authorities to let them know that the money is legitimate and was duly
cleared before being transferred into your account. I will meet you
for sharing and possible investment in any good business.It is also
very important that you handle the business in a very confidential
manner and give it the utmost attention until the money is transferred
into your account.
Attached is a scanned copy of my international passport/Drivers
license. I am sending you the document to show how legitimate this
business is and expect that you give it the required attention and
confidentiality. I will also ask that you do not let anybody have
access to my documents. I hope this your email address is secure. If
it is not then I will advise that you open a new email with yahoo or
gmail or hotmail for this business. I do not want any third party
knowing about this business until the money is transferred into your
account..
You can call me with my number below for any clarification
Peter Shipton
+442032399426
pshipton@europe.com
pshipton101@outlook.com
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