|
|
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:
- "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "million 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)
- "my names are " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "god fearing " (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- 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.
- linpda_juniors03@hotmail.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: linpda juniors <linpda_7777777@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: linpda_juniors03@hotmail.fr
Date: Wed, 12 May 2010 11:53:27 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: DEAR GOOD FRIEND.
DEAR GOOD FRIEND.
I AM SO HAPPY TO MEET YOU I BELIEVE IT IS THE LORDS DOING.HI I HOPE YOUR OK? PLEASE PERMIT ME TO INTRODUCE MYSELF TO YOU MY NAMES ARE MISS. LINPDA JUNIORS. I AM FROM IVORY-COST IAM LOOKING FOR A NICE MAN WHO IS GOD FEARING IN OTHER TO HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM HOPING THAT IT WILL LEAD INTO INTO FURTURE PARTNER.
THEREFORE, I WILL LIKE YOU TO ASSIST ME TO FURTHER MY ADUCATION WHEN I EVENTUALY COMES OVER TO YOUR COUNTRY, MY GOOD FRIEND, I WILL ALSO LIKE TO LET YOU KNOW SOME FEW THINGS ABOUT ME AND THE FACT IS THAT MY LATE FATHER LEFT AN IMPORTANT CAPITAL INHERITANCE THAT WORTH OF FOUR POINT FIVE MILLION DOLLARS. FOR ME AS HIS ONLY SURVIVING DAURTHER, PLS I WILL LIKE YOU TO GET BACK TO ME FROM MY PRIVATE EMAIL: linpda_juniors03@hotmail.fr
I HOPE TO HERE FROM YOU SOON.
THANKS AND MAY GOD BLESS YOU.
MISS LINPDA JUNIORS
OGENT RESPONSE
|
Anti-fraud resources: