|
|
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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "hundred thousand united states 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)
- "aniya_arif01@voila.fr" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
Fraud email example:
From: Aniya Arif <aniya_2009arif.704@msn.com>
Reply-To: <aniya_arif01@voila.fr>
Date: Sat, 1 Aug 2009 10:31:36 +0000
Subject: YOUR ASSISTANT IS NEEDED
Dear friend,
I am Mr. Aniya Arif, A banker in one of the reputable bank in Burkina Faso. I have decided to contact you on a business proposal of us$10.5m (ten million five hundred thousand united states dollars) the depositor of the said fund died with his retire family during the Iraq war in 2006. The deceased customer used this wife as the next of kin but unfortunately. The wife died along side with him leaving nobody for the claim. If interested reply to this my private email address aniya_arif01@voila.fr And you can call me for more details about this transaction 00226 76 32 11 64
Best regard
Mr. Aniya Arif
bill and exchange manager
|
Anti-fraud resources:
