|
|
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:
- "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. )
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Mark William <diplomaticstoragecourier@gmail.com>
Reply-To: diplomaticstoragecouriercompan@gmail.com
Date: Fri, 3 Mar 2017 01:13:29 -0800
Subject: COMPENSATION FUND.
I was directed by Mr.Iyke Chioma to send you a bank draft of
us$1,200,000 on address as soon as we receive a confirmation letter
from you and your telephone number.the bank draft will be send to you
through courier services and you will receive it within 48hours.all
that i required from you to forward the bank draft of us$1,200,000 is
to re-confirm your full name,address and telephone number.you have to
pay the cost of delivery of us$275.as soon as the money and the
re-confirmation of your address is received the bank draft will be
mail to you through express delivery and you will receive it within
48hours.
You can open an online account so that we can deposit the bank draft
from where you can transfer the money by yourself to any account of
yourself any where in the world kindly let me know so that i will give
you the details.
In case you want to receive the bank draft do let me know so that we
can meet the courier company that dispatch the bank draft to you
through express delivery.
The tracking number will be forwarded to you so that you will track
the draft and know when it will arrive your country.i wait for your
response so that i will tell you how to send the money to the courier
company.
I wait for your response.
Dubest.
|
Anti-fraud resources:
