|
|
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:
- "liberia" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: JOHN PHISTILO <transenyonam@yahoo.fr>
Reply-To: energiepluspawer@gmail.com
Date: Thu, 28 Aug 2014 17:41:19 +0100
Subject: DIAMONDS AVALAIBLE FOR SALE
Dear Sir ,
I am coming respectively to keep you informed of the opportunity
that come acrossed to me . I was contacted by the local miners associate in Liberia who has in their possession very considerable carats of diamond for sale .
Interested party should be ready to fly down to Accra where meeting will take place with the local miners one to one to finalise the transaction .
Payment of the goods will be done after the stones have been
tested and secured .
If you declared yourself interested , let me know in order to send you
the manifest and let me have your passport copy so that
invitation letter be sent to you
immediately
Your prompt reply is Awaited
Best regards
|
Anti-fraud resources:
