|
|
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:
- "million pounds" (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)
- "very confidential" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "god fearing " (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- This email message is a "dying widow" 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.
- emmanuella.fisher@aim.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Mrs. Emmanuella Fisher <thais.silva@panambra.com.br>
Reply-To: msellafisheres@aim.com
Date: Tue, 21 Jan 2014 23:38:27 +0100
Subject: Response on Project!
Compliment of the season, greetings to you and your lovely family. I am Mrs. Emmanuella Fisher now undergoing medical treatment in Cecilia Makiwane Hospital South Africa. I am married to Dr. Martins Fisher Jr,who worked with British Judicial Commission in England for over a decade before he died on 5th of July in the year 2005. We were married for fifteen years without a child.He died after a brief illness that lasted for two weeks.
I wish to discuss a very confidential /profitable business deal worth over £4 Million (4 Million Pounds Sterling) when my late husband was alive he deposited the sum with one Finance/Security Company in Europe which he intend to use for Real Estate Project/ Orphanages to help the poor and needy.
My Doctor told me that I would not last for the next 4 months due to a rare form of cancer of the pancreas. Though what disturbs me most is my stroke.Having known my condition I decided to donate this fund to an individual or better still a God fearing person who will utilize this money the way I am going to instruct here in for a Real Estate Project/Orphanages. I want an individual that will use this to fund and provide succor to poor and indigent persons, orphanages, and widows and for propagating peace in the universe and also generate income on any investment made in the Real Estate Project/Orphanages.
Kindly reply for details how you can be of great assistance to help me carry out the project for helping the poor and needy as well as investing the fund .I would need your response to be directed to this email for sake of confidentiality (emmanuella.fisher@aim.com)
I hope to hear from you soonest and God bless.
Mrs. Emmanuella Fisher.
|
Anti-fraud resources:
