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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:
- 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:
- "please indicate your interest" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "million us 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)
- "await your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "top secret" (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 next of kin scam.
Fraud email example:
From: Mrs Maria Antonio <aeaeplus@neostrada.pl>
Reply-To: mariantonio57@yahoo.com
Date: Mon, 03 Oct 2011 01:46:53 +0800
Subject: Life opportunity.
Dear Sir / Madam,
I am Mrs Maria Antonio, An accredited manager of Allianz insurance company.
I have this credit oppotunity which i will not relent to let you know, i want
you to stand for claims as next of kin to my late client whose insurance
cover worth ($50 million US dollars). We will conclude this operation within
21 working days, and we share it on a mutual percentage 50% both sides.
Please indicate your interest if you wish to follow me do this business.
(1) Your full name.......
(2) Your private telephone number................
(3) Your profession/occupation.........
(4) Your age........................... ..........
(5) Your country....................... ..........
Thank you for your understanding as i await your urgent response to enable
me give you more details,don't forget to give me the information's below
and make sure you keep it top secret to yourself for safety reasons.
Thanks
Mrs maria Antonio
credit account Manager.
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Anti-fraud resources: