|
|
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.
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- 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.
- fmkan7@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Max <diplomatpeter.scott@yahoo.co.uk>
Reply-To: fmkan7@yahoo.com
Date: Wed, 10 Jun 2015 18:13:42 +0100
Subject: Re: Funds for Charity.
Dear Sir,
Re: Funds for Charity.
The funds we can use is in the UK in a security deposit with a Finance company where I am an accountant. The depositor was an expatriate oil industry engineer in West Africa who was killed in a mine in West Africa. He left no next of kin in the deposit documents.
The plan is to perfect documents to make you the next of kin and rightful beneficiary to the deposit. We will then ask for liquidation of the asset to you. An arrangement is in place to use the diplomatic pouch to deliver the asset to you at your address or at any other place you prefer. The deposit contains cash and gold and it will be delivered to your address.
The processes to perfect the change will commence immediately I read from you with full name,
telephone and preferred delivery address.
When we conclude the deal, you will personally keep 40% of the proceed and I take 40%. 20% will be donated to charity. If this is possible with you, then treat as urgent and reply with your details TO fmkan7@yahoo.com.
Thanks,
A. Max.
|
Anti-fraud resources:
