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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 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 "dying widow" scam.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs. Fatima Rasheed." <fatimarasheed_54@aklan.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: fatimarasheed@aklan.com
Date: Tue, 20 Dec 2005 00:14:59 -0800
Subject: From Mrs. Fatima Rasheed.
Dear Beloveth.
I am Mrs. Fatima Rasheed Khalifa a widow to Late Sheik Mohammed
Rasheed Khalifa from Iraq.
Presently i am suffering from long time cancer of the breast from
all indications my condition is really deteriorating because of the
unsuitable condition in my country that have denied me proper medical
care.
My late husband was killed during the invasion of collition forces from
American and Britain in Iraq and during the period of our marriage
we couldn't produce any child My late husband was very wealthy and
after his death I inherited all his business and wealth
Therefore my desire now is to contribute part of this wealth for
humanitarian aid such as propagation in assisting the less-privileged
and to
use part of the fund to acquire a better medical treatment else where
in Europe or America
I am willing to give out 20% of the sum to you for helping me to
retrieve this money and transferring it to your account for the said
purpose the deposited amount is $7.5 million united states dollars.
Please I want you to note that this fund is lying in a Security
Company.For that i have also written
to a lawyer who will file application for the retrieving of
the money on your name as the beneficiary only if you promise to use
this funds judiciary for the said purpose.
Yours,
Mrs. Fatima Rasheed.
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Anti-fraud resources: