|
|
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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- 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.
- majafletcher2010@safe-mail.net (Safe-mail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: Major Andrew Fletcher <majafletcher002@yahoo.com.ph>
Reply-To: Major Andrew Fletcher <majafletcherus2010@live.com>
Date: Wed, 23 Nov 2011 02:39:45 +0800 (SGT)
Subject: U.S Combat Soldier In Iraq.
Dear Friend,
I am Major Andrew Fletcher, U.S Combat Soldier group of 50,000 combatant left behind in Iraq for advisory and assistance to Iraq Forces after the Handing over to Iraq Peace Keeping Force.
During our operation here, I was able to secure eight Million, Five Hundred Thousand Dollar($8.5m) which is my share of a deal we shared among ourselves that belong to Saddam Hussein and his family.
The fund was deposited in a top financial/security firm awaiting final transfer out of this country.
I need your assistance as the receiver of the fund to be moved out of this country prior to our final disengagement from here.Could you be trusted as my partner in this deal?
You will find the story of this money on the link below. After we have summitted the remaining part of the money to relevant authorities.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/2967029.stm
Please contact me on majafletcher2010@safe-mail.net for further details.
Regards.
Maj. Fletcher
|
Anti-fraud resources:
