|
|
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:
- 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:
- "claims office" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
- 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.
- sarah.wilson050@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Government Grant" <sales@hangtattravel.com.hk>
Reply-To: sarah.wilson050@yahoo.com
Date: Tue, 15 Jan 2019 17:18:03 +0100
Subject: Your $5M USD GOVT GRANT
Attn:
It has been a while since we have been trying to get your government grant and approved funds over to you but since the attempt doing this with the aid of a transfer directly from our bank to your personal account has failed due to some various reasons best known.
It is my pleasure to inform you that after a meeting that was concluded late last week by the president Trump led Administration and Finance team spare headed by the Federal Reserve System,after so much delibration, an agreement was reached that your funds will be reopened for your claim but this time an ATM CARD HAS BEEN PREPARED on your behalf and this funds has all been transferred in the Atm card and it has been well packaged along with the secret pin code and documentation of funds approval .
Our Legal department has reviewed your funds legality and found it to be legitimate ,like i mentioned earlier feel free to call me or send me a text message regarding this issue because it is of great importance that this is treated on time before the government order its cancellation Tel Phone #: +1 318 402 0127. Send sms for instructions.
Please confirm your information bellow and if it is found to be correct by you then we will proceed in releasing the ATM CARD to your confirmed information within 24hrs
FULL NAME
ADDRESS
PHONE NUMBER
As soon as you confirm your details ,you are to send a response to the claims officer/lawyer in charge of your funds release,her email address and phone number is as given bellow
Email Address: sarah.wilson050@yahoo.com
phone number : +1 318 402 0127
Do note that you will be required to provide a Valid ID for certification.
Thanks
Yours Faithfully,
United Nations
Iheritance Claim Department
Tel & Fax: +1 318 402 0127
|
Anti-fraud resources:
