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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:
- "million united state 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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- 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.
- mahbikar@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr.Mahmoud Bilkar" <peppino.giannone@alice.it>
Reply-To: mahbikar@yahoo.com
Date: Tue, 18 Jul 2017 13:44:02 +0200 (CEST)
Subject: urgent
Good day
l am Mr. Mahmoud Bilkar,Director of Financial Affairs and Director
with the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) There are funds that is uncovered
in my position and it is well secured I want this funds to leave the treasury
before it is confiscated by the government of the day because the original
Contractor that executed the contract has been paid long ago but the over
invoice Sum of $59,000.000.00 (Fifty-Nine Million United State Dollars) is in
my position as the head of accounts.
With the above, I and my colleague have
decided to seek your understanding to move this fund to your account for safe
keeping pending when we will be coming to meet you and discuss areas of
investment.
Note all the vital documents covering the fund will be in your
name as one of Sub-contractor that executed contract with the National Iranian
Oil Company (NIOC) My position is important to me and my friend as a result we
need a sincere and honest person that will not seat on the fund when released
to his/her account.
For understanding, we will give you 20% of the fund for
your assistance/help. Please always feel free to ask me question were you did
not understand. We intend to conclude this transaction as soon as possible.
Yours sincerely, as your urgent response is important to us.
Mr.Mahmoud Bilkar
Director of Financial Affairs
Reply to this email: mahbikar@yahoo.com
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