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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:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "hundred thousand 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)
- "barr." (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "etienneeku@live.co.uk" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "BARR. ETIENNE EKU" <etienneeku@live.co.uk>
Date: Mon, 11 Jan 2010 17:47:30 -0500 (PET)
Subject: REPLY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE!!
DEAR SIR/MA,
PLEASE FORGIVE MY USING THIS MEANS TO REACH YOU BUT I CANT THINK OF ANY
OTHER WAY OF LETTING YOU KNOW THE URGENT MATTER AT HAND. I'M ACTED AS
PERSONAL ATTORNEY TO (LATE) MR. E. DEMENTIEVA, WHO LIVED AND WORKED HERE
FOR MORE THAN TWENTY YEARS AS A MAJOR CONTRACTOR AND BUSINESSMAN.
ON THE 1ST OF OCTOBER 2006, HE AND HIS WIFE AND ONLY DAUGHTER WERE
INVOLVED IN AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT WHILE VISITING A NEIGHBORING COUNTRY ON
VACATION. THEY WERE BURIED TWO WEEKS AFTER AND I HAVE EXHAUSTED ALL MEANS
OF REACHING WHO MAY HAVE BEEN RELATED TO THEM. THIS HAS BEEN MADE MORE
DIFFICULT BECAUSE NO MENTION WAS MADE OF ANY RELATIVE WHILE HE WAS ALIVE.
TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE, BEFORE HIS DEATH, HE HAD AN INVESTMENT
DEPOSIT TOTALLING MORE THAN TWENTY MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED
STATES DOLLARS (US$20.500.000.00) WITH THE MAJOR BANK HERE AND NOW THEY
HAVE ASKED ME TO PROVIDE A NEXT OF KIN IF THERE IS, OR THE ESTATE WILL
THEN REVERT TO THE GOVERNMENT AND SO IT WOULD BE LOST.
MY PROPOSAL IS THAT YOU ALLOW TO BE PRESENTED FOR THIS ROLE SO THAT
DOCUMENTATION CAN BE PROCESSED AND PAYMENT MADE IN YOUR FAVOUR. THIS IS A
PROJECT WHICH WILL SEE US PARTNER TO REALISE. I WOULD BE WILLING FOR US TO
DISCUSS TERMS OF PARTICIPATION IN ORDER TO PROTECT OUR VARIOUS INTERESTS.
I WANT TO ASSURE YOU RIGHT AWAY THAT I HAVE POSITIONED THIS DEAL TO NOT
LAST FOR MORE THAT TWO WEEKS. I SHALL BE WILLING TO DISCUSS FUTHER ON THIS
IF WRITE BACK OR SENDS TO ME YOUR DIRECT TELEPHONE NUMBER SO WE CAN
DISCUSS IN THE TYPE OF CONFIDENTIAL ATMOSPHERE WHICH THIS MATTER REQUIRES.
THANKS FOR YOUR PROMPT RESPONSE. SEND YOUR RESPONSE TO
(etienneeku@live.co.uk)
BARR. ETIENNE EKU
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