|
|
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:
- "million 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 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Atiku Dasuki <atiku.dasuki@myprivate.bd.tn>
Reply-To: <atiku.s.dasuki@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 5 May 2016 09:54:56 +0100
Subject: Reply urgently for our mutual benefit.
Hello Friend,
l am Atiku Sambo Dasuki, the son of Retired Colonel Sambo
Dasuki the National Security Adviser to the former President
of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan. I deposited the sum of $65
Million United States Dollars in an offshore Finance House
for family investment. Details of the deposit will be
disclosed and relevant documents made available to you as
soon as your interest and confidentiality is guaranteed to
receive the funds from the finance house as our family
investor.
Thanks in anticipation of your kind assistance and
co-operation in this mutual business relationship.
Yours Faithfully,
Atiku Sambo Dasuki.
|
Anti-fraud resources:
