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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:
- "30% for you " (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)
- "utmost confidentiality" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- 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.
- songlile234@yahoo.com.hk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: SONGLILIE <info@song.com>
Reply-To: songlile234@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Fri, 07 Dec 2007 17:15:08 -0700
Subject: PLEASE READ
Good Day,
My name is Mr. Song Lile i am the director of operations in Hang Seng
Bank,Hong Kong. I have a business proposal in the tune of $19.5m, after the successful transfer, we shall share in ratio of 30% for you and 70% for me. Should you be interested, please contact me through my private email (songlile234@yahoo.com.hk) so we can commence all arrangements and I will give you more information on how we would handle this project.
Please treat this business with utmost confidentiality and send me the following:
Full names
Phone number
Address
Occupation
Age and Sex
Kind Regards,
Mr. Song Lile.
Anti-fraud resources: