|
|
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. )
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Eric magu <fabrisluigi@alice.it>
Reply-To: ericmagu1@hotmail.com
Date: Tue, 2 Jan 2018 23:37:15 +0100 (CET)
Subject: Attn: Dear Card Owner
Attn: Dear Card Owner
This is the 3rd time i am sending you, this ATM Visa Card valued sum of US $
10.5 Million and i have not received any positive respond from you or making a
suggestion on how you wish to receive your ATM Card. Once Again, I am Mr. Eric
Magu the new director United Bank of Africa Benin Republic, I resumed to this
office on the 5th of December 2017 and during my official research I
discovered an
abandoned ATM Visa card valued sum of $ 10.5 Million belonging To you as the
rightfully intimate beneficiary.
I have tried to know why this card has not been released before the former
director ATM head of operation who left this office months ago withhold card
Plans towards diverting your fund will be discovered.
Now that your ATM Visa card still from my office or alternatively it can be
arranged to register your shipping to your own address through any registration
reliable courier service company I can not care the courier charge, hope it is
cleared and accepted by you I do not know the courier cost of shipping the card
to ship the card, you can make an enquirers from the courier shipping company
to find out the cost, but you will be required to forward to me your address
where you want to receive the card to enable me find out the shipping cost to
your location.
Your direct telephone number and address will be needed and more details of
your ATM card payment will be made known to you as soon as I receive your swift
positive response and do not hesitate to call me on (+229)6196-2332 as soon as
you read this mail.
Thanks for your co-operation and i wait for your kind positive respond.
Yours Faithfully
Mr. Eric magu
|
Anti-fraud resources:
