|
|
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:
- "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)
- "into your nominated bank account" (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)
- "abidjan" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- This email message is a orphan scam.
Fraud email example:
From: joyce Tagro <joyce.tagro01@yahoo.com.ph>
Reply-To: joycetagro01@ukr.net
Date: Wed, 2 Nov 2011 19:39:19 +0800 (SGT)
Subject: Good Morning
Good Morning
I am Writing this mail with painful heart,I am Miss Joyce N Desire Tagro from Republic of Ivory Coast,but presently here in Accra Ghana. I lost my father on Tuesday 12th of April 2011 and He was an ex-interior minister and took up the position of secretary general at the office of the president until his death in Abidjan. He died in the hospital as the result of the injuries he sustained because of bombardments carried out on the presidential residence.Before his death he deposited A Trunk Box containing the sum of ($9.5M)nine million five hundred thousand USD in one of the Security Company here in Accra the capital city of Ghana which was meant for the importation of cocoa processing machine abroad.
Note:, According to my late father the Box was deposited in a Private Security Company and he told them that the box belongs to his foreign partner who will come to claim it in due time. He declared that the box contents Family Valuables for security Reason.Please I want you to do me a favor to help me Claim out this Box and Transfer the said Amount of money into your nominated bank account of your choice in your name as the foreign partner,i will also want you to invest this fund in a benefit able investment in your country for the future of my life.
Please if you are willing to assist me, indicate your interest in sending to me the following information to my private Address and if you have any question feel very free to ask me.
Your Full Name.............................
Your Sex..................................
Your Age..................
Your Country...........
Passport / driving license.......
Marital Status...................
Your Occupation...............
Your Personal Mobile Number................
Your Personal Fax Number.....................
I will be pleased to offer to you 20% Of the total fund for your kind assistance and No matter what your decision may turn out to be, please I beg you to keep this highly secret and confidential.
Thanks and God bless
Miss Joyce Tagro
|
Anti-fraud resources:
