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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:
- "hundred thousand united states 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)
- ",500,000" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Give urgent attention :" <morgan.thomas1@yahoo.com.ph>
Reply-To: morganthomas123@yahoo.com
Date: Tue, 22 Nov 2011 23:30:28 +0800 (SGT)
Subject: Give urgent attention :
From: Morgan Thomas
Dear Sir
Greetings to you in the name of our God. I know this email will be a surprise to you, it is your profile that gives me the trust and confidence to contact you for a humble assistance in your country.
My father was a special adviser to the president of my country, Ivory Coast/Cote d' Ivory before being assassinated with my mother by the rebels troops that invaded our home during the political crisis in Ivory Coast/Cote d' Ivorian.
Before the death of my father he made a deposit of Fourteen Million Five Hundred thousand United States Dollars only($US14,500,000.00) with a prime bank in Accra Ghana. Now i have discovered with this bank all the details but my intention of transferring this money abroad for an investment depends on a competent individual with your kind of profile who can stand in defense of my intent.
Based on your profile, i am requesting you to assist me receive this money in your bank account and i am ready to give you 20% of this money for your assistance immediately i come over to your country for the investment of this money.
Please kindly send to me your telephone number for more vital information and all my details shall be sent to you as well.
Remain bless while expecting your prompt co-operation.
Best Regard.
Morgan Thomas
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