|
|
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:
- "hamzah_ahmed78540@w.cn" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Maria Gertrud's Alban" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <hamzah_ahmed78540@w.cn>
Date: Tue, 12 Jul 2011 06:12:31 +0700
Subject: INTIMATE ASSISTANCE
Dearest,
Greetings. Please accept my apologies if this request does not meet your personal ethics as it is not intended to cause you any embarrassment in what ever form. I got your contact from the internet directory and decided to contact you for this transaction that is based on trust and your outstanding reputation based on the information I got from my Country's Chamber of Commerce.
My name is Madam. Maria Gertrud's Alban; I am a citizen of Peru. I need your kind assistance to receive the sum of $10.5m, if this business proposition offends your moral values, do accept my apologies.
Please if you are interested kindly respond by sending me your address, full names, and telephone numbers including your business/occupation to my lawyer private email address hamzah_ahmed78540@w.cn to enable me ascertain your capability of handling this business. Trusting to hear from you immediately.
|
Anti-fraud resources:
