|
|
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)
- "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)
- "top secret" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
- "there is no risk involved" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
- "direct1111@hotmail.co.za" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Ghias M. K." <info.van.consults@consultant.com>
Reply-To: direct1111@hotmail.co.za
Date: Tue, 3 Sep 2013 08:55:06 -0700
Subject: Please Respond
Dear Friend,
My name is Daniel Alan l work with the security deposit sections of one of
the banks here is south Africa.
Its true that l don’t know you but l am sending you this proposal base on
trust and understanding that you wont let me down as such all
correspondence should be kept top secret.
Former Libya president (Late Gaddafi ) during the time of Nato raid
to remove him from power by force deposited the sum of $40 million
dollars with our bank as security deposit he also deposited gold and other
related material which were not recorded of can be accounted for . before
he was killed
http://www.iol.co.za/news/digging-for-gaddafi-s-treasure-1.1560682#.Uhg76NKkyOM
With mystery surrounding the deposited fund there was not final
beneficiary or due to the war that was going on and Gadhafi never believe
he was going to die or lose the battle.
This fund deposited through my friend and boss in the office Abed Van
Robinson who is in charge if international remittance and logistics.
However the bank is now compel to release this sum to anyone who is
presented as his next of kin of relations .
That why l am writing you so that we can present you as the beneficiary of
the fund and the fund can then be release to you .
You might wonder how do we do this , relax my boss Mr Abed will just write
your name in the final beneficiary form that is already in the bank and
submit it to the account department and they will open an online account
for you and release the fund to you through online banking through one one
the paying bank in your country.
The transaction is 100% risk free, safe and fast. You wont have any problem
with anyone as all evidence for trace shall be destroyed and removed from
the computer.
but the transaction must be kept top secret. You shall take 40% and keep
60% for me and my boss I will come to your country to invest my own share
of the fund in any good business that you will introduce to me that you
know will be profit oriented Please there is no risk involved the
transaction is 100% risk free . What l require from you now is your full
details, and copy of National identity or pass port coy to enable me get
the legal letter of authority but you will also promise me that you wont
let me down.
Please contact with me with your full details on my private email
direct1111@hotmail.co.za .
Please keep top secrete.
Daniel Alan
|
Anti-fraud resources:
