|
|
joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
|
|
"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.
- 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)
- 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.
- j1lawsontg@aim.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "JEAN LAWSON (ESQ)" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <j1lawsontg@aim.com>
Date: Mon, 18 Jan 2010 01:44:13 +0100
Subject: GET BACK TO ME IF INTERESTED
Dear Friend,
I am Bridget Eyadema wife to the Ex-president of the federal republic of Togo (Mr. Gnassingbe Eyadema Ettienne) as it was heard over the cable networks that he died untimely as a result of illness, he passed away on seat in his 38 years of ruler ship.
Due to the sudden death of my husband, I have been thrown into a state of hopelessness by my late husband's family members who have taken hold of everything I inherited from my late husband. I have lost confidence with anybody within my country, except my family Attorney who has been there for us during this crisis.
My husband deposited US$7.5M with a security firm abroad whose name is withheld for now till we communicate. I will be happy if you can receive this funds for investment on our behalf. I assure you 30% of this fund as compensation for all your efforts.
If this proposal interests you, please forward your reply including your telephone and fax to my family Attorney's Mr. Jean Lawson on his email address (j1lawsontg@aim.com) for more clarification about it all
Yours sincerely,
Mrs. Bridget Eyadema
Reply to: j1lawsontg@aim.com
|
Anti-fraud resources:
