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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:
- 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 united state 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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Collins Ken <collins.ken@mail.ru>
Reply-To: Collins Ken <collinsken1968@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 7 Feb 2015 21:23:40 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: Dear sir
Attention Email Account Owner,
I must say sorry for interfering into your privacy without seeking for
permission. It's because of urgency of this matter. I'm the Director
in charge of audit and account unit department, with a Bank here in
ACCRA/GHANA. I have decided to contact you for a mutual beneficial
transaction with 100% risk free.
In April 2006, Lu Yunpeng, a multimillionaire and president of
Henan-based Yunpeng Cultural Development Co Ltd China moved some cash and 100 kgs
gold from Europe to my bank. The fund arrived during the time Lu Yunpeng
was been tried for murder in China. As his account officer he
instructed that I should put a hold on the fund that was supposed to
go to China pending on the outcome of his trial.
In May 2006 he was sentenced to death and the fund remained unclaimed
till date. As his account officer I was aware that nobody knows about
this fund movement except his cousin who was also sentenced to death
with him.
Please click this link for your own perusal:
http://en.ce.cn/National/Local/200605/18/t20060518_7005764.shtml
I want to utilize this opportunity and make use of this fund by
transferring the money to you. I want to work with you on it. The
amount involved is US$19.5million united state dollars.
Please reply back and let's benefit from this golden opportunity. You
are my first contact. I shall wait for days and if I do not hear from
you, I shall look for another person.
sincerely,
 Mr Collins Ken
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