|
|
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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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:
- "million british pounds" (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)
- "god fearing " (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- +447045723143 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
- 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.
- dr_mcedward1999@yahoo.com.hk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "trinitycliniccentre@litmo.org" <embamoc.japao@minec.gov.mz>
Reply-To: Dr Michael Edward <dr_mcedward1999@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Thu, 17 Mar 2011 22:06:16 +0200 (CAT)
Subject: URGENT OFFER FROM UNITY CLINIC CENTRE
My name is Dr. Michael Edward, a patient (Mr David Mathews) was brought to my clinic about a week ago for medical check up. I found out that he was diagnosed with Esophagus cancer. he has a little boy named John. Before Late Mathew died, he instructed me to get in touch with his account officer to make an update documentation of his wealth to the favor of his little son.The will of Mr. David Mathew was designed in my name to take care of his little son. But the constrain am having is that, am a medical doctor with no wife, no child of my own due to some medical circumstance.
Base on this i need a God fearing Father or a mother whole can take care of this little boy as his or her own child, and invest the sum GBP6M (Six million British pounds) in a profitable business for his up bringing. Please a God fearing person.
Get back to me for further details if you are willing to accept this offer.
Email: dr_mcedward1999@yahoo.com.hk
Cell number:+447045723143
+447031930843
Thanks
|
Anti-fraud resources:
