|
|
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:
- "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- 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.
- elizabethheidrich@yahoo.co.uk (Yahoo, United Kingdom; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "Sister Elizabeth Heidrich" <belfast@belfastsecuritygroup.com>
Reply-To: <elizabethheidrich@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Thu, 17 Feb 2011 18:05:25 +0100
Subject: MY LAST WILL
Dear Sir/Madam
THIS IS AN(S.O.S)message.My name is Sister Elizabeth Heidrich,i am presently in the hospital and i have cancer,the doctor said i will not last two weeks and i have some money that i need to use for charity.The sum i have is $17Million,i want you to help me donate 70% to charity and also build an orphanage in my name,the remaining 30% is for you.I needed someone real and not imaginary,that is why I came to a secured site where I can be sure that the person is real.CONTACT ME THROUGH MY PRIVATE MAIL BOX FOR PRIVACY REASONS if you can assist in any way: (elizabethheidrich@yahoo.co.uk)
Thank You.
Sister Elizabeth Heidrich
|
Anti-fraud resources:
