|
|
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.
Advertisement:
|
Help friends and family on their PC!
Share the screen, keyboard and mouse.
Get connected securely from anywhere in under two minutes!
www.CrossLoop.com
|
|
Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "hundred thousand us 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)
- This email message is a "New Partner from Paraguay" scam.
- 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.
- willi_maxwell1@yahoo.co.uk
Fraud email example:
From: "MR.JOHN KENY" <billmail@purcell.biz>
Reply-To: willi_maxwell1@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Fri, 28 Dec 2007 18:34:50 +0100
Subject: FOR YOUR PASS EFFORT
Am very happy to inform you about my success in getting that fund Transfered,I
want you to contact my pastor on the information below.NAME;Pastor WilliamMaxwell:(willi_maxwell1@yahoo.co.uk)Ask
him to send you the total sum of (1.5m)one million five hundred thousand
us dollars in a bank draft, which I kept for your compensation.CONTACT HIM
ON this email;(willi_maxwell1@yahoo.co.uk)
Best Regards,
Dr.John Keny
Pan-Africa Mortgage & Finance.
Anti-fraud resources: