|
|
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:
- "transfer of your funds" (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)
- ",000,000" (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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Rev.James Udoh" <contactubakadike1@gmail.com>
Reply-To: revjamesudoh09@gmail.com
Date: Wed, 1 Feb 2017 10:11:28 +0100
Subject: Re: Confirm
Good Day
This is to notify you of new order on the release of your fund. Prior
to this proceeding anomaly, we have been mandated by President of
Federal Republic of Nigeria to make sure all our debtors received
their long awaiting fund within the next five working days from date.
But in your own case we found some complicity in your payment file due
to petition file by one Mr.Janice Parnell from United States of
America that he is your Lawyer and that are dead, again in your will
when you are a life that we should hand over the ownership of your
fund that is still unclaimed to him. So he now wants us to transfer
your fund to his own account that is stated below.
Bank of America
New York Branch
A/C: 0911667701
Swift Code: BA09
Beneficiary: Janice industries Ltd
Kindly get in touch with us today by email with your telephone number
to confirm this information to avoid wrong transfer of your funds, so
that we can proceed with the transfer of the US$10,000,000.00 to your
correct bank account as scheduled.
Feel free to respond to this massage to enable us decide on what to do
and furthermore forward your direct contact telephone and fax number
as you read this mail.
Yours Sincerely
Rev.James Udoh
|
Anti-fraud resources:
