|
|
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:
- "fudiciary" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
- "million united states 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 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.
- dennywayneclofficer@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Shell Foundation Inc" <info@maritim.go.id>
Reply-To: dennywayneclofficer@gmail.com
Date: Wed, 23 Jan 2019 09:51:26 -0500
Subject: Shell Oil Award
SHELL INTERNATIONAL LTD
Shell Center, London
SE1 7NA England
1/23/2019
Greetings From Shell Petroleum,
You have just been awarded the sum of $9.5,Million United States Dollars Only which was won by your
E-MAIL Address in our Shell Petroleum Lottery Promotions,Shell Petroleum Lottery Promotions is part of
our social responsibility in line with with our company act as stated in the company act law.
To begin your claim please contact our licensed and accredited and only Fudiciary assigned to you.
INTERNATIONAL VERIFICATION DEPARTMENT MANAGER
Name: Rev Denny Wayne
Email: dennywayneclofficer@gmail.com
Do email the above Claims Administrator to avoid unnecessary delay.
Sign,
Shell Lotto Management.
|
Anti-fraud resources: