|
|
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:
- "god fearing " (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- "remain blessed" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- This email message is a "dying widow" scam.
Fraud email example:
From: Mrs Karen Wright <kwright01_9@msn.com>
Reply-To: <karen-wright2011@hotmail.com>
Date: Wed, 22 Jun 2011 08:53:43 +0000
Subject: Greetings From Mrs Karen P.Wright.
Greetings
From Mrs Karen P.Wright.
With Due
Respect and Humanity, I was compelled to write to you under a humanitarian
ground. However is not mandatory nor will I in any manner compel you to honour
against your will. I am Mrs Karen P.Wright from Solomon
Islands near Australia; I am married to
Parker
Wright from Solomon Islands who worked with Solomon Islands Embassy in GUINEA
for nine years before he died, We were married for eleven years without a child
and He died after a brief illness that lasted for only four days. Before his
death we were both born again Christian, and since his death I decided not to
remarry or get a child outside my matrimonial home which my religion is
against. When my late husband was alive he deposited the sum of ($2.5 Million USD)
with one of the bank in Africa.
Just
recently, my Doctor told me that I would not last for the next Eight months due
to cancer problem. Having known my condition I decided to donate this fund to a
church; charitable organization or any God fearing person that will utilize
this money the way I am going to instruct here in. I want a Church organization
or God fearing person that will use this fund for (orphanages,) (widows,)
(HIV/AIDS) propagating the word of God and to endeavour that the house of God
is maintained. I took this decision because I don't have any child that will
inherit this money and my husband relatives are not good at all. Because they
are the one that killed my husband in other to have my entire late husband
properties and I don't want my husband's efforts to be used by unbelievers. I
don't want a situation where this money will be used in an ungodly way.
I don't
need any telephone communication in this regard because of my health hence the
presences of my husband’s relatives are around me always. I don't want them to
know about this development.
Please
assure me that you will act accordingly as I Stated herein.
Hoping
to receive your response immediately.
Thanks
and Remain blessed in the Lord.
Mrs Karen P.Wright.
|
Anti-fraud resources:
