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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- "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)
- "waiting for your urgent response" (they are rushing you so you don't have time to think properly)
- "liberia" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- 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.
- +448701321518 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
- 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.
- gdoulaw22@yahoo.com.hk
- infotallalaw@netscape.net (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: =?big5?q?Talla=20Dou?= <doulaw22@yahoo.com.hk>
Reply-To: infotallalaw@netscape.net
Date: Mon, 20 Mar 2006 13:34:09 -0800 (PST)
Subject: INFO
§Ú¦³·sªº¹q¶l¦a§}¡I§A²{¥i¹q¶lµ¹§Ú¡Gdoulaw22@yahoo.com.hk
Dear Sir/madam,
I have a client who wants to invest in your country presently the fund is deposited in security bank vault is US$9Million (Nine Million United States Dollars). My client is a General in Liberia army and he would want his name to remain a top secret.
If you can help, Please email or fax me on telephone number +44 870 132 1518 0r infotallalaw@netscape.net so that we can arrange how to move the money to your country. We will offer you 15% of the total sum of US$9Million as fee for your efforts and support.
I am waiting for your urgent response. Please reply.
Thank you.
GRATEFULLY TREAT AS URGENT.
Talla Doukoure Azize (Esq)
London Uk.
- Talla Dou
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