|
|
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:
- "united state of america" (this email uses bad English)
- This email message is a fake lottery scam. Consider the following facts about real lotteries:
- They don't notify winners by email.
- You can't win without first buying a lottery ticket.
- They don't randomly select email addresses to award prizes to.
- They don't use free email accounts (Yahoo, Hotmail, etc) to communicate with you.
- They don't tell you to call a mobile phone number.
- They don't tell you to keep your winnings secret.
- They will never ask a winner to pay any fees to receive a prize!
- 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.
- alexedmond90@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Mrs Natta Miller <info@amazonaws.com>
Reply-To: <alexedmond90@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 13 May 2020 18:18:59 +0100
Subject: BMW LOTTERY DEPARTMENT
NOTE: If you received this message in your SPAM/BULK folder, that is beca=
use of the restrictions implemented by your Internet Service
Provider, we (BMW) urge you to treat it genuinely and kindly move it to you=
r inbox.
BMW LOTTERY DEPARTMENT
9631 HICKMAN RD
URBANDALE IOWA 50322
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Email: alexedmond90@gmail.com
Dear Winner,
This is to inform you that you have been selected for a prize of a brand n=
ew 2018 Model BMW 8 Series Car and a Check of $3.5 Million USD from the int=
ernational balloting programs held on the 1st section of the 2020 annual aw=
ard promo in the UNITED STATE OF AMERICA.secret pin code Number BMW:2541256=
004/25.
Contact Mr Alex Edmond by providing him with your secret pin code Number BM=
W:2541256004/25. You are also advised to provide him
with the under listed information as soon as possible
1. Name In Full :
2. Residential Address:
3. Nationality :
4. Age :
5. Occupation :
6. Direct Phone :
7. Present Country :
8. Email address :
9. pin code Number:
Mrs Natta Miller.
THE DIRECTOR PROMOTIONS
BMW LOTTERY DEPARTMENT
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
"
CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE:-
This e-mail contains Privileged and Confidential Information intended solel=
y for the use of the addressee(s). It shall not attach any liability on the=
sender or Collabera or its affiliates. Any views or opinions presented in =
this email are solely those of the sender and may not necessarily reflect t=
he opinions of Collabera or its affiliates. If you are not the intended rec=
ipient, you should not disseminate, distribute or copy this e-mail. Please =
notify the sender immediately and destroy all copies of this message and an=
y attachments. WARNING: Computer viruses can be transmitted via email. Whil=
e Collabera has taken reasonable precautions to minimize this risk, Collabe=
ra accepts no liability for any damage that may be caused to you in the eve=
nt that there is any virus in this e-mail or any attachments attached heret=
o. It is the addresses(s) duty to check and scan this email and any attachm=
ents attached hereto for the presence of viruses prior to opening the email=
. Thank you.
"
|
Anti-fraud resources:
