|
|
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 us 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)
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- This email message is a "New Partner from Paraguay" scam.
- Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
- This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- 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.
- edwin_ele6@yahoo.com.hk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Edwin Ele <edwinele5@gmail.com>
Reply-To: edwin_ele6@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Mon, 2 Mar 2015 15:07:57 +0100
Subject: DEAR FRIEND
YOUR PAST EFFORT REWARD
I'm happy to inform you about my success in getting the fund transferred
under the cooperation of a new partner from Paraguay. Presently I'm in
London for investment projects with my own share of the total
sum.Meanwhile,i didn't forget your past efforts and attempts to assist me
in transferring the fund despite that it failed us somehow.
Now contact my secretary in Nigeria with the following information:-
NAME:............BARRISTER EDWIN ELE
E-MAIL:..........edwin_ele6@yahoo.com.hk
Tel:..............+2348076522137
Ask him to send you the total $1.5million us dollars which i kept for your
compensation for all your past efforts and attempts to assist me in this
matter.i appreciated your efforts at that time,so feel
free and get in touched with my secretary BARRISTER EDWIN ELE and instruct
him where to send the amount to you. Please do let me know immediately you
receive it so that we can share the joy. I am very busy here because of the
investment projects which i and the my new partner are having at hand.
Finally,remember that i had forwarded instruction to the secretary on your
behalf to receive the money,so feel free to get in touch with EDWIN ELE ask
him to send you the money without any delay.
Yours Faithfully
Dr.Mrs Rose Ugo
|
Anti-fraud resources:
