|
|
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:
- "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)
- "await your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Bank Australia <martinkevin0032@gmail.com>
Reply-To: commonwealthaustralia770@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 16 Aug 2021 14:59:49 +0100
Subject: PAYMENT
Attention Lukas Muff
RE: INSTRUCTION TO TRANSFER OVER DUE PAYMENT
This is to inform you that this office did received payment advice
from The world bank, United Nation and IMF to pay to you the total
amount of $60 million dollars, A final approval has been given to your
claim and your funds have been transferred to common wealth bank
Australia who has the final authority to transfer out such amount of
fund.
You are required to forward with immediate effect the following
information to enable us carry out this transfer to your account
within the next 48hours. forward as a matter of urgency the following:
FULL NAMES:
ADDRESS.
DIRECT TELEPHONE NUMBER:
AGE:
OCCUPATION:
COUNTRY:
MEANS OF IDENTIFICATION:
We await your urgent response
David Cruz
|
Anti-fraud resources: