|
|
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:
- "million united states 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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: cb n_r <cbn_r@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: elderpeter18@gmail.com
Date: Sun, 8 Aug 2010 16:55:46 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: READ ABOUT THIS DONATION AND RESPOND
DEAR BELOVED IN CHRIST,
IT IS BY THE GRACE OF GOD THAT I RECEIVE CHRIST KNOWING THE TRUTH FOR IT WILL SET ME FREE. I AM FORMER IMAM MUSTAPHA A MUSLIM BUT WAS CONVERTED AFTER I BECAME ILL FOR SEVERAL YEARS.
I STARTED READING THE BIBLE ONE FAITHFUL DAY AND READ ONE VERSE WHICH INSPIRED ME MOST AND THAT IS GALATIANS 6V7. SO I HAD TO GO THE A NEARBY CRUSADE WHEN I HEARD MORE PREACHING AND I SURRENDERED MY LIFE TO GOD.
BUT DURING MY MUSLIM DAYS I HAVE MADE A LOT OF MONEY BUT COULD NOT HELP PEOPLE BECAUSE OF THE RELIGION I WAS INTO.
NOW THAT I AM A BORN AGAIN I FASTED AND GOD DIRECTED ME TO SOW SEED BOTH HOME AND ABROAD.
I JUST FINISHED BUILDING THE HOUSE OF GOD CALLED ADONAI CHAPEL AND GOD FURTHER DIRECTED ME TO GO TO THE INTERNET TO SEEK FOR A TRUSTED CHRISTIAN THAT I CAN DONATE THE SUM OF $1.2 MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS FOR HUMANITARIAN WORK OF GOD AFTER MY SEARCH I FOUND YOU AND DECIDED TO CONTACT YOU
SO FORWARD YOUR CONTACT TELEPHONE AND FAX NUMBERS TO ME IF YOU KNOW THAT YOU CAN PROPERLY UTILIZE THIS FUND TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND ABOVE ALWAYS FAST AND PRAY ALWAYS.
I WILL BE WAITING FOR YOUR CONTACT TELEPHONE NUMBERS AND YOUR ASSURANCE BEFORE WE CAN MOVE FURTHER.
YOURS IN HIS HEAVENLY ASSIGNMENT
NOW ELDER PETER
|
Anti-fraud resources:
