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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:
- "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)
- "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
Fraud email example:
From: "Dr.Idris Obaseki" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <DR.IDRISOBASEKI@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 22 May 2010 11:35:47 -0700
Subject: Hello contact us for detail
Hello;;;;i am Bertha Elizabeth from the standard chartered bank London, please my self and my partner Mr. terry Donald from the auditing department, we need you to work with us for the transfer of $9.5million from my branch from an account that has been dormant for over 5 years belonging to a costumer whom has lost touch with us and with the statutory status governing all banks here in the united kingdom this funds shall be declared unserviceable and be confiscated by the British government this is the more reason why I agreed with my colleague here at the auditing department to go into search for any one whom has same last name with this deceased customer that we can present as the next of kin to this account and the fund be released to you after which we shall shear the funds among us 30% for you while 70% for me and my colleague. Please note that this transaction is 100% risk free transaction as we have all the legal documents my bank may request from you before they can t
ransfer the funds to you. Please
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Anti-fraud resources: