|
|
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:
- "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.
- 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: ECO BANK BENIN <"ecobank."@lagoon.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: ECO BANK BENIN <ecobank651@yahoo.com>
Date: Sun, 25 Jun 2017 03:35:17 +0900 (JST)
Subject: GREETINGS FROM ECO BANK BENIN REPUBLIC.....
Good day dear beneficiary how are you doing today? This is Mr Felix Mbah from Eco bank Benin Republic. Am Emailing you regarding your fund worth Six Million, Nine Hundred Thousand Dollars (6.900,000.00 USD) which
was brought here early this morning by the IMF and UNITED NATIONS COMPENSATION BOARD. We have been contracted to carry out this compensation project considering the fact that the delivery company and the UBA Bank has not
been able to get your fund to you after all the stress and money you spent just to make sure that you get what rightfully belongs to you.
We are here to make sure that you receive your fund without any problem and you have three ways which your fund can be delivered to you and you are the one to choose and then we follow up, these three ways are BANK
TO BANK WIRE TRANSFER, CHECK AND ATM CARD. It is now left for you to make your choice to enable us follow up the process immediately without any delay and you are to reconfirm your details to us as listed below as we
dnt want to get your fund delivered to the wrong person or address.
Receiver's Name.........
Address.......................
Phone #........................
Age..............................
Occupation...................
Marital Statue..............
You are to provide this complete details above to enable us proceed on the preparation of your fund payment file and bear it in mind that the more details you provide will fasten this process because we have the intention of
getting your fund ready and making it usable by you before this week ends.
Best Regards,
Mr Felix Mbah.
Manager Eco Bank Plc.
Phone....+229-6619-4296 Or Text ...(307) 545-1620
|
Anti-fraud resources:
