|
|
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:
- 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:
- "a security company " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "your country for safe keeping" (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)
- "abidjan" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: DAVID NORMAN <david.norman30@btinternet.com>
Reply-To: davidnorman010@yahoo.com
Date: Fri, 14 May 2010 08:30:25 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: I NEED TRUST
I NEED TRUST
Its a great Honor and privilege to brief you my reason and plans of entering into business with you, please i know you will be offset or suprise with the content of this mail but its something i dont know how to handle on my own and will not be posible for me to handle single handed.
My name is Mr David James the son of Mr James Mbama , i am only child of my parents and we are from Sierra Leone but now i am in Rep of Cote D'Ivoire where i have been taking refugee after the brutal war and killing of my parents by gang up of my father's uncle and rebels during the fighting in my country Sierra Leone.
Because of the war my Father sold his shipping company and took me to a nearby country Cote D'Ivoire where he deposited (US$9.500,000,Nine Million five hundred thousdand united states dollars in a Security Company here in Abidjan- Cote D'ivoire.
But due to the current political instability in Cote D'Ivoire, i am seeking for your assistance to lift this money out from Abidjan, Cote D'Ivoire to your Country for safe keeping and to invest this money over there in your Country.
I will mail you with full details on how the money was deposited by my father with the security company as soon as i read from you for an assistance.
I will offer you 20% of the total sum for your help immediately the money get to you in your country and i will like to invest the money in any lucrative business you know very well and i will relocate to your country to further my study as soon the money get to you.
Please kindly get back to me if you are interested to assist me so that i will forward to you more information about the deposit.
Best Regards
Mr David James.
|
Anti-fraud resources:
