|
|
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.
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Marina" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mrs.litvinenko@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 13 Nov 2010 11:08:44 -0000
Subject: I'm in need of your Assistance
Please do not be offended & I will understand completely if you cannot be of assistance to me. I am the wife of Late Mr. Alexander Litvinenko (Mrs.Marina Litvinenko) and my late husband was a former Russian spy.
My Husband tea was poisoned with polonium-210 by the Russia Government and died November 2006 at the University College Hospital in Central London because of the memorandum he wrote concerning numerous connections between top brass of Russian law enforcement agencies and Russian mafia groups, such as Solntsevo gang which they are after my life ( Reason I will disclose Further). Visit link: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17332541/
Please I want you to assist me in transferring my late husband deposited funds from a financial security vault with one of the biggest banks in the world. All I need from you is to take charge of the funds transfer to your country for charity purpose and use your discresion on investment without any publicity involvement.
Do take this assistance as a contribution to fate because this is not an easy task for my situation and that is the main reason why I contacted you, more details on establishing relationship with me if you are willing to take the responsibility.
Thanks,
Mrs.Marina Litvinenko
|
Anti-fraud resources:
