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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Morgan Peter" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <p0855402@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 16 May 2018 23:51:24 -0500
Subject: Assume custody of funds.
Greetings My Dear Friend,
With due respect to your person and much sincerity of purpose, I make this contact with you as I believe that you can be of great assistance to me.
I came to know of you in my private search for a reliable and reputable personality to handle this profitable business deal which involves a huge cash sum of ($ 18,000.000) Eighteen million US Dollars in cash in our possession.
My name is Morgan Peter personal assistant to one of the top ministers under former president Goodluck Jonathan regime here in Nigeria.
Please see this as a confidential message and let me know whether you can be of assistance regarding my proposal.
There is no one coming to ask you about the funds because we will secure everything. I only want you to assist us by receiving these funds in cash.
You are not to face any difficulties or legal implications as I am going to handle it personally.
If you are capable of receiving the funds, do let me know immediately to enable me give you a detailed information on what to do.
We cannot transfer these funds to your bank account because we do not want these funds to link to any bank account anywhere in the world.
Presently the administration of President Buhari is using the method of whistleblower to track and discover where funds had been heeding.
You can read more about it.
https://www.channelstv.com/2017/04/12/efcc-discovers-huge-sums-of-money-in-ikoyi-apartment/
So because of this, we have made all plans to move our funds without the banks.
Please get back to me if you are interested and capable to handle this deal, I shall intimate you on what to do when I hear from you.
If you are capable of being my trusted associate do declare your consent to me. I am looking forward hearing from you.
Please kindly send the below information.
Your Full Name:...............
Direct Phone:....................
Country.................
Occupation:.....................
Gender:.........
Age:..............
Thank You and Be Blessed.
Kind Regards
Morgan Peter
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