|
|
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:
- "registration fee" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "million 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)
- "dear beneficiary," (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
- 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.
- bofa.tngyen@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "BANK OF AMERICA" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <bofa.tngyen@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 15 Apr 2020 20:45:26 -0700
Subject: Good News at Last
Dear Beneficiary,
After the just concluded meeting with the board of directors and in conjunction with the directives of the American Government to release every pending payment to the rightful beneficiary as part of Stimulus Package to help curb the Covid-19, I am please to inform you that Bank of America have concluded arrangement to grant you a waiver to enable you receive your pending payment of $11.5 Million Dollars and allow you pay the pending fee when you receive your fund. However, your only obligation is to pay for the $100 registration fee as part of the ongoing program and to be recorded as well.
You are kindly advised to provide us with your banking details where to have the fund transferred, your direct contact number and copy of your ID for an identification purpose. We shall provide you details on how to send the $100 to be able to complete the transfer on the receipt of your email.
Feel free to call me if you have any question: +1-305-440-0768
Thanking you in anticipation..
Thong M. Nguyen
President-Retail Banking & Head-Consumer Banking
Email: bofa.tngyen@gmail.com.
Tel: +1-305-440-0768
|
Anti-fraud resources: