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joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
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"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:
- "required 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. )
- "service 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. )
- "ecowas " (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "abuja" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- 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.
- mrphilippelehouerou@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. dwards Ellis" <adnan@gmail.com>
Reply-To: mredwardsellis92@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 11 Oct 2021 09:08:01 -0700
Subject: From United States Former Ambassador
This is Mr. Edwards Ellis. the Former United States Ambassador to Republic of Nigeria , I came down here in Abuja Nigeria Republic for an ECOWAS meeting and I was searching for some files that I left in this office before I left and found out that you have not received your fund, and I asked the present ambassador Mary Beth Leonard what happened that you have not receive your fund since 2 years now, and he said that you refused to pay the required fee for the delivery of your ATM CARD.
I am contacting you this morning because the director of the ATM CARD center here in Nigeria Republic said that they will divert your FUND to the Government Treasury just because you cannot pay for the service fee of your ATM CARD which is $100.00 only according to them. But I told them to wait until I hear from you today so that I will know the reason why you rejected such amount of money $2.5m which will change your life just because of $100.00
I want your urgent response as soon as you receive this email and explain to me the reason why you have abandon your FUND because of $100.00 But if you don't need it then I can change your name to another person so that this Government will not claim this money but I know that you will love to have it. Please my dear I want to help you to receive this fund because it was a big shock to me that you have not receive your ATM card and withdraw your money since 2 years now and I'm very sorry for that and you will receive your fund before the end of this meeting which will take us 2 days and I will be here to monitor it until you receive your fund.
This is where you should send the fee today and don't fail to do that as I have said.
Finally, make sure that you reconfirm your full details. contact mrphilippelehouerou@gmail.com
1) FULL NAMES:
2) DELIVERY ADDRESS:
3) PHONE NUMBER
4) COUNTRY:
Enquiries WhatApp Phone: number +1-4059283243
Mr. Edwards Ellis
United States Former
Ambassador to the Republic of Nigeria
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Anti-fraud resources: