|
|
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:
- "stamp duty" (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. )
- "you are required to pay " (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. )
- "into your nominated bank account" (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)
- "million dollars" (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.
- This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
Fraud email example:
From: "MR.PETER AMANGBO" <m.tashbolotov@mail.gov.kg>
Reply-To: mrpeteramagnbo@gmail.com
Date: Fri, 10 Mar 2017 11:40:34 -0800
Subject: DEAR CUSTOMER,
DEAR CUSTOMER,
WE HAVE RECEIVED YOUR EMAIL REGARDING THE RELEASE OF YOUR APPROVED FUND OF US$ 4.2MILLION DOLLARS PART PAYMENT. TO MAKE EVERYTHING FAST AND EASY WE DECIDED TO OPEN AN ONLINE ACCOUNT FOR YOU IN OUR BANK AND FROM YOUR ONLINE ACCOUNT WITH US YOU CAN START TRANSFERRING YOUR FUND CONVENIENTLY INTO YOUR NOMINATED BANK ACCOUNT IN YOUR COUNTRY. KINDLY GET BACK TO US FOR MORE
DETAILS.
LOGIN DETAILS AND INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO ACCESS YOUR ONLINE ACCOUNT AND EFFECT TRANSFERS TO YOUR DESIGNATED BANK ACCOUNT BY YOURSELF WILL BE EMAILED TO YOU, YOU ARE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION FOR FURTHER OPENING OF A NON-RESIDENTIAL ONLINE ACCOUNT ON YOUR BEHALF
TOMORROW.
PERSONAL INFORMATION
(1) FULL NAMES:
(2) NATIONALITY:
(3) PASSPORT NO OR NATIONAL ID CARD NO.:
(4) DIRECT PHONE NUMBER:
(5) CONTACT EMAIL ADDRESS: _
(6) PREFERRED CURRENCY FOR ACCOUNT:
NOTE THAT YOU ARE REQUIRED TO PAY ONLY $195 FOR PAYMENT CLAIM FILE LEGALIZATION STAMP DUTY FEE.
RESPOND ONLY IF YOU ARE READY.
WE GUARANTEE YOU THE BEST OF OUR SERVICES.
REGARDS
MR.PETER AMANGBO
CHAIRMAN,CEO_
ZENITH BANK PLC
OFFICE TEL:+234-26591204
FAX:+234-1-266-817-022
|
Anti-fraud resources:
