|
|
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:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "a security company " (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 ever send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally. )
- "trunk box" (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)
- "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)
- "my names are " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
- 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.
Fraud email example:
From:
Date:
Subject: Barrister: Rosalo Soledad
Barrister: Rosalo Soledad
Telephone: 011 34 669 202 125
Fax: 011 34 911 817 368
Attention:
My names are Barrister Rosalo Soledad. I have a proposal that will be of interest and beneficial to you, a late client of mine by name Dr. Dewayne, Who lived in Spain for Thirteen years, died along with his family during the Tsunami catastrophe which occurred December 2004.
Before the catastrophe; He deposited One Trunk Box/Diplomatic Personal Treasure, containing the sum of $9.8M (NINE MILLION, EIGHT HUNDRED THOUSAND US DOLLARS) with a security company here in Spain, as the attorney to late Dr. Dewayne, the security company has mandated me to present a heir/inheritor to make Claims, or the vault will be confiscated and taken to the Bureau of Diplomatic Security, as unclaimed.
Kindly indicate your interest to this mail either via my email address:
rosalosoledy@gmail.com
Â
I will contact you for more information.
Best regards,
Rosalo Soledad
(ESQ)
Anti-fraud resources: