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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:
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
Fraud email example:
From: "Bar. Clement Abuchi" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <bar.cabuchi@centrum.cz>
Date: Thu, 26 Aug 2010 14:25:56 -0700
Subject: Get back to me urgently
DEAR,
MY NAME IS BARRISTER CLEMENT ABUCHI AND I AM AN INTERNATIONAL ATTORNEY AND INHERITTANCE MANAGER. I HOLD IN TRUST THE VALUES OF MY CLIENTS AND IMPLEMENT SAME ACCORDING TO THEIR WISHES AND DESIRES.
I WISH TO INFORM YOU THAT AN ANANIMOUS DONOR HAS INDICATED THAT WE CONTACT YOU TO ARRANGE FOR THE RECEIPT OF THE SUM OF
$2,565,000.00 FOR THE SOLE PURPOSE OF CHARITY AND TAKING CARE OF THE OLD PEOPLE IN ANY PART OF THE WORLD.
THESE ARE CONTAINED IN THE WILL LEFT BEHIND BY THE DONOR. SHE WAS A MISSIONARY IN AFRICA WHO DIED WITHOUT ANY CHILD
THROUGHOUT HER LIFE. DURING HER STAY IN AFRICA, SHE WAS ABLE TO RECEIVE A LOT GIFTS BOTH IN CASH AND VALUABLES WHICH SHE HAS
NOW STATED IN HER WILL THAT YOU INHERIT SAME FOR THE SOLE PURPOSE OF HELPING THE LESS PREVILEDGED IN THE SOCIETY IN ANY PART
OF THE WORLD. DO NOT FORGET THAT SHE DOES NOT WANT HER NAME AND IDENTITY MENTIONED AND WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO RESPECT HER
WISHES AND DESIRES.
YOU WILL BE SOLE MANAGER OF THE FUND AND YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO ESTABLISH THE CHARITY IN ANY COUNTRY OF YOUR CHOICE. YOU ARE
ALSO ENTITLED TO KEEP 30% OF THE TOTAL SUM INVOLVED FOR YOURSELF IN RUNNING THE LOGISTICS FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE
CHARITY IF YOU SO DESIRE. ACCORDING TO THE DONOR, THIS IS HOW GOD HAS DIRECTED HER TO PUT WHAT SHE LEFT BEHIND TO THE BENEFIT
OF THE POOR AND OLD ONES IN OUR SOCIETY TODAY.
COULD YOU THEREFORE CONTACT ME ON THE EMAIL ADDRESS BELOW FOR FURTHER INFORMATION IN THIS REGARD AND TO ARRANGE FOR THE
TRANFER OF THE MONEY TO YOU FROM ONE OF THE COMMERCIAL BANKS HERE.
I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU URGENTLY.
GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.
YOURS FAITHFUYLLY,
BARRISTER CLEMENT ABUCHI.
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