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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:
- 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:
- "account in your country or any safer place" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "to your nominated bank account" (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)
- This email message is a orphan scam.
- 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.
- mariabazan101@maktoob.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Miss.Maria Bazan" <mrsvberry@gmail.com>
Reply-To: mariabazan0@maktoob.com
Date: Tue, 29 Jun 2010 11:14:18 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: Your Mail
From Miss Maria Bazan
Accra-Ghana.
Private and Confidential.
My Dear,
I am Miss Maria Bazan from Accra. I lost my Father Mr. Atat Bazan a couple of months ago. My Father was a serving director of the Cocoa exporting abroad until his death .
He was assassinated by the rebels following the political uprising. Before his death he had a foreign account here in Accra Ghana up to the tune of ($6.5M) he told the bank that was for the importation of cocoa processing machine.
I want you to do me a favor to receive this funds to a safe account in your country or any safer place as the beneficiary .
MOREOVER, I AM WILLING TO OFFER YOU 25% OF THE TOTAL SUM AS COMPENSATION WHEN THE FUND IS SUCCESSFUL TRANSFER TO YOUR NOMINATED BANK ACCOUNT IN YOUR COUNTRY.)I have plans to do investment in your country, like real estate and industrial production.
This is my reason for writing to you.Please if you are willing to assist me indicate your interest in replying me with my E-mail: mariabazan101@maktoob.com soonest.
Thanks.
Best regards
Miss Maria Bazan.
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Anti-fraud resources: