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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:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- ",500,000" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "urgent assistance" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "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)
- "lwinglok2@live.hk" (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: (sent from abused email account)
Date: Sat, 30 Nov 2013 04:36:56 -0500
Subject: Hello
Dear Friend,
I am Mr.Leung Wing Lok from Hong Kong I Hoped that you will not expose or betray this trust and confident that i am about to transact with you for the mutual benefit . I need your urgent assistance in transferring the sum of $19,500,000.00 away from my Bank to a private Bank outside my country, Please I would like you to keep this proposal as a top secret or delete it from your mail if you are not interested. Also note that you will have 30% of the above mentioned sum, if you agree to transact the business with me while 70% will be for me. I will give you full information about this transaction as soon as you notify me of your interest.
Please Email me on my private email: lwinglok2@live.hk
Regards
Mr.Leung Wing Lok
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Anti-fraud resources: