Common fraud and explanation of mode of operation.
Often especially lately, you will receive in your inbox some person you do not know claiming to be an official (Lawyer, bank manager, relative to an exiled or fallen leader or some position of wealth).
These people will give you a story of how they must transfer huge sums of money or have you stand in as a next of kin or many other stories. This is the 419 advanced fee fraud. This named under criminal code of Nigeria section 419. Being one of the most corrupt government and law enforcement, rarely these perpetrators arrested or prosecuted. These frauds are not only in Nigeria now but have caught on in other countries as well.
The frequency of this became so much many people know that it is a fraud so many disregard. It now has morphed into the fake UK Lotto, Microsoft Lotto or many other claims saying you are a winner. A new version now used is a low interest loan company. Same intention, send an advanced fee.
Some have become clever offering payment but by counterfeit check or money order. These often will clear the bank at first until discovered to be fraudulent then person exchanging these held responsible for funds tendered. This too has stemmed the employment as a representative for handling foreign payment. Laundering and sending counterfeit checks or money orders as well.
Visible trends to look for in your email.
Senders email address, technique often when you hit reply a different free web based email will come up in the send to box. Most the time I see gmail, hotmail, yahoo or live most common gmail or live. Most always requested in the letter to send reply to different “private” email they list in their letter. In the email To: line will read undisclosed-recipients meaning this was mass sent. This should raise a red flag as questions arise,. Why hide sending address? If I was exclusive as a winner of your lotto why send it to many?
Conclusion
Be careful when dealing with people you do not know. Remember when offered something for nothing usually, it is a con game or fraud. These people have been doing this for years and raking in big as many fall for this. Best to when you see this delete it or forward to abuse@gmail.com , abuse@live.com or the email carrier with abuse in front.
All carriers will shut these emails down. Remember hit reply to get the actual email. The reason they hide it is so some will not report them.
September 23rd, 2008 at 7:42 pm
Very well-written and useful article. I also have articles related to this topic.
http://www.gomestic.com/Personal-Finance/Six-Worldwide-Scams-You-Should-Know.50180
http://www.gomestic.com/Personal-Finance/Your-Bank-Deposit-is-Eaten-by-Scammers.53135
Thanks and regards.
September 23rd, 2008 at 9:37 pm
Thanks Chan Lee Peng. Your articles as well good information and well written.
November 6th, 2008 at 12:34 am
you are a thief
February 16th, 2009 at 12:48 am
Thanks for these useful acticles, here is a question, i work in nigeria, being around most of them, low lives, rich ones… they are not the only ones that run these cons, if you go there you can see for yourself, that people from other countries defraud them ( Nigerians ) too, instead of pinning things on one perticular ppl why not try researching more, you’ll see that MAY, SA, AU, RO, RU, DE and us the citizens of US defraud ppl too. I commend your effect but, i will be even more pleased to read articles from other countries point of view.
Thank you for your time.
Prof. Ernest Hebert.
Dartmouth University
February 16th, 2009 at 1:15 am
Thanks for your comment Prof. Ernest Herbert. Yes I realize that many countries other then Nigeria does this. I wrote this being origination (the 419) was Nigeria and most of the people I am sure are law abiding citizens and some do fall for these types of fraud as well. I have studied internet crimes and even in the US where I am from and Canada there are those who would take advantage of others. I, at one time received a notice that I won a sweepstakes in Canada. Being a skeptic but curious called the so called office of the sweepstakes. The person on the line was from Canada and told me he would send a check to clear taxes and fees involved with depositing my winnings. Red flags flew like old glory on July 4th. I gave him my address he sent a check. I took down the information address and phone number when I received the check turned it over to fraud investigation at Chase bank. A few months later I got a letter from the bank saying that yes it was a counterfeit check that the authorities had arrested the people involved.
So this is not just Nigeria Please do not get me wrong.
Thanks
Odanneyboy
March 25th, 2009 at 9:08 pm
As you can see my warnings are being effective. This is a ridicules threat. This man can not possibly know where I live I defer that. My IP address well one moment it is in Singapore next in Australia next moment in Taiwan, Japan, Guam, Thailand, Indonesia, Laos and Philippines. Good Luck Mr. Mugu. Chase around the jungles of Laos one time cobras will give you a rude awakening.