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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:
- 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:
- "hundred thousand united states 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)
- 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.
- vivian400abba@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Abba <vivian00abba@live.fr>
Reply-To: Abba <vivian400abba@yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 13 Feb 2014 16:52:02 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: FROM MRS VIVIAN ABBA
My dearest beloved,
I wish you and your Family a Happy New Year 2014, May almighty God bless you.
How
are you today? I hope all is well with you and your family to the glory
of almighty God. My name is Mrs. Vivian Abba. I am married to Late Mr.
David Abba who works in France Embassy here in lome -Togo West Africa
for nine years before he died in the year 2007. My dear I am divinely
touched in my heart to offer my inheritance fund through you for Charity
work to help the less privileges, orphans and motherless children.
My
dear I am written you this message because I am suffering from
esophageal Liver Cancer for years now and I have undergone series of
cancer treatments but no avail. Recently I went for a medical check up
and my doctor privately told me that I might not survive this cancer
illness because the cancer has damage my Liver. Having known to my
condition, I have decided to donate my inheritance fund to you the sum
of Seven Million Eight Hundred Thousand united states dollars
($7.800.000.00). My dear I want you to use this fund for Charity work in
helping the less privileges, orphans and motherless children. My dear I
have decided to hand over this fund to you so that you will conduct a
vastly charity work and
dispense the fund to the glory of God in
helping the less privileges and orphans around. My dear immediately I
hear from you I will give you all the details about this Fund ok.n I
pray that God will be with you in as you desire to do this Charity work.
Please my dear reply me through your email to my email address here:
(vivian400abba@yahoo.com)
I'm waiting to receive your reply.
Best Regards,
Your Sister in the Lord.
Mrs. Vivian Abba.
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