|
|
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:
- 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:
- "confidential business" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- 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.
- mr.leewong2@yahoo.com.hk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: LEE WONG CHONG <mrleeeeewong@networld.at> (may be fake)
Reply-To: mr.leewong2@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Wed, 30 Mar 2011 23:20:57 +0200
Subject:
Good Day,
I found your email address in address Directory on the web and decided to
contact you for your help. I am Mr.Lee Wong, I am a retired provincial head
of customs administration in China . I currently own and manage an import/
export company; I am married with three children. I have a confidential
business proposal for
you but I am not sure this is the best medium to transmit my proposal I was
educated in the
west and understand that this is an un-usual approach to doing business but
please give me
your consent to send my proposal and we can take things further.To indicate
your interest or
request more details, please contact me by e-mail: mr.leewong2@yahoo.com.hk
Kind Regard,
Mr.Lee Wong
----------------------------------
Ein Service von http://www.news.at
|
Anti-fraud resources:
