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joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
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"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:
- "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "waiting for your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: LUCIA KOFFI <lucia.koffi@btinternet.com>
Reply-To: luciak0ci@yahoo.fr
Date: Sat, 9 Jan 2010 09:53:19 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: Greeting From :Miss Lucia Koffi
Greeting From :Miss Lucia Koffi
>From Miss Lucia Koffi
Dearest one
I am Miss Lucia Koffi From Sierra Leone and i am contacting you Because I need your help in the management of a sum of money that my late Father was left for me before he died. this money is usd $5.8 million United State dollars which he left in fixed/suspense account in one of the prime bank .
My father was a very rich CAFE CACAO farmer and he was poisoned by his Business colleagues and now i want you to stand as my guardian and Appointed beneficiary and receive the money in your country since i am only 21years and without mother or father.
Please i will like you to reply to this email so that i will tell you All the information so that this money will be transferred to you so that you will get me papers to travel to your country to continue my education there.
Waiting for your urgent response.
Yours Regard
>From Miss Lucia Koffi
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Anti-fraud resources: