|
|
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:
- "huge sum of money" (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)
- "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
- 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.
- walshdave121@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr Walsh dave" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <walshdave121@yahoo.com>
Date: Fri, 8 Feb 2013 05:12:27 +0100
Subject: Mutual Proposal
I am Walsh Dave the director in charge of auditing and accounting section of Banco de Espana with due respects and regards. I have decided to contact you on a business transaction that will be very beneficial to both of us at the end of the transaction.
During our investigation and auditing in this bank, my department came across a very huge sum of money belonging to a deceased person who died on 20th August 2008 the was a big disaster with spanair airline, which killed 150 people on board in the plane crash and the man was among and his funds has been dormant in his account with this bank without any claim of the fund in our custody either from his family or relation before our discovery to this development.
You can view it here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=_nM_RHsxoi8
Although personally, I kept this information secret within myself and to wait for some years to pass like now that is almost 5 years. The total amount was €10m (Ten Million €uro). Meanwhile all the whole arrangement to put claim over this funds as the next of kin will be made, required approval will been made also, all we have to do transfer this money to a new account you are going to open in one of our branch office. Information will be relayed to you as soon as you indicate your interest and willingness to assist.
As I am still working in the bank I will forward the claims to your new account the transaction is 100% risk free and you will be entitled of 35% of the total sum try to get back to me through this email address if you find it convenient to en back on this mutual proposal please quickly reply to my private Email- walshdave121@yahoo.com for further information.
Yours Sincerely
Walsh Dave
|
Anti-fraud resources:
