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joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
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"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.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "dearest one," (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "hundred thousand united state 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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- This email message is a orphan scam.
- 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.
- robert_ugo@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Robert Ugo <ugo.robert1993@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 6 Jul 2011 20:14:45 +0100 (BST)
Subject: hi,
Dearest One,
Permit me to inform you of my desire of asking you to be a guardian or foster parent to me and then help me out in what I about to tell you.
I'm Robert Ugo (18)(Orphans). I am the only son of Late Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Ugo . My father was a Farmer here in Togo Lome, the economic capital of Togo. He was poisoned to death by his business associates on one of their outings on a business trip. My mother died when I am baby.
Before the death of my father on Sept. 2009 he secretly called me by his sick bed and told me that he has the sum of Three million two hundred thousand United State Dollars USD ($3.200,000) deposited in a suspense account in a banks here in Togo Lome.I now want to have the money transfer outside the country for investment purpose in your country which you will be managing it wisely while we continue my education there when i come over to meet you.
Because of this I honorably seeking your assistance in the following ways:
(1) To serve as a guardian to me and then assist me transfer the money into your bank account. (2) To make arrangement for me to come over to your country to further my education and then settle there parmanently. I shall offer you 20% of the total money for assisting me on the transfer of the money to your account.
Write me direct to my private email: (robert_ugo@hotmail.com)
Thanks and God bless you .
Best regards,
Robert Ugo.
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