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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:
- "million 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 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Tina Koutoua <joel_konan@yahoo.fr>
Reply-To: t_koutoua1@yahoo.co.jp
Date: Mon, 1 Aug 2011 17:52:07 +0100 (BST)
Subject: From Miss Tina Koutoua Tegro
>From Miss Tina Koutoua Tegro
I am From Lome Togo West Africa,
My Dear,
In confidence,I have to introduce myself for I am Miss Tina Koutoua Tegro, the only child of late Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Koutoua Tegro, I wish to request for your assistance in my efforts to procure the transfer of my inherited funds for investment ventures Overseas which was secured in one prime bank here in my country by my father before his death.
The amount is five million dollars( $5.000.000.00 ) Deposited in a Suspense account with one prime bank here in my country with my name as the next of kin to the deposit, I will require your assistance in receiving the transfer of the funds in your local bank account for investment purposes. As it is my desire to come over to your country to further my education after the transfer while you take care of the investment of the money.I will be glad to offer you a reasonable ratio for your co-operation in investing this money and everything is going to be under your care while i am in school to accomplish my studies. Please and please I will be highly appreciated if you can return to me with urgent dispatch to enable me contact you with more details.
I await to receive your immediate response.
My Kind Regards!
Miss Tina Koutoua Tegro.
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Anti-fraud resources: