|
|
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:
- "security keeping 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. )
- "diplomatic courier" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Mike Brown <mikebrown35090@gmail.com>
Reply-To: mikebrown3509@gmail.com
Date: Wed, 13 Jul 2022 07:14:09 +0300
Subject: ATTENTION DEAR EMAIL OWNER
--
HELLO DEAR GOOD NEWS TO YOU.
Your ATM Card worth 10million USD has been approved and was deposited
with UNITED NATION DIPLOMATIC COURIER COMPANY this morning for
registration and we agreed up that the delivery of Your 10Million USD
ATM Package will take off today or tomorrow morning. So contact with
your full info where your ATM card will be delivered to,
(1) Full name———
(2) Mobile Number:—————
(3) Gender———
(4) Country of origin-——
(5) Home Address_____
(6) Occupation____
(7) Country____
(8) Nearest Airport____
Urgent get back to us today with your full address where your ATM card
will be delivered to because i will not be in the office next week:
The amount in your Card is 10Million USD and your Pin code is: (0085)
the security keeping fee of 100USD will be paid, because they said
that they have to be paid for their security keeping fee before the
package will be released to you,
Looking forward to hearing from you.
Best Regards
Mike Brown.
|
Anti-fraud resources:
