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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:
- "necessary legal documents" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "huge deposit" (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)
- "million 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)
- "is 100% risk-free" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "chambers" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
- Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
- 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.
- markdone5050@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
- road ikeja lagos. telephone 234-7084845765. email:[ markdone5050@yahoo.com] hello dear. i am barrister mark done a solicitor. i am (Yahoo; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: chinasa love <chinasamyheart@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 13 Feb 2012 14:03:33 -0800
Subject: Wish to hear from you soon.
FROM: Mark Done (ESQ)
M.Done CHAMBERS&CO
#29 UNITY ROAD IKEJA LAGOS.
Telephone 234-7084845765.
email:[ markdone5050@yahoo.com]
HELLO DEAR.
I am Barrister Mark Done a solicitor. I am the private Attorney to my
late client Jean Luis.a National of your country, who used to work
with Strabag construction Company in Nigeria. On the 21st of April
2007 were involved in a car accident along Shagamu Express Road. All
occupants of the vehicle unfortunately lost their lives. Since then I
have made several inquirers to your embassy to locate any of my
client's relatives, this has also proved unsuccessful. After these
several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to trace his last name over
the Internet, to locate any member of his family hence I contacted
you.
I have contacted you to assist in repatriating the money and property
left behind by my client before they get confiscated or declared
unserviceable by the Finance Company where this huge deposits were
lodged where the deceased had an account valued at about 25 Million
Dollars has issued me a notice to provide the next of kin or have the
account confiscated. Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the
relatives for over 2 years now I seek your consent to present you as
the next of kin of the deceased since you have the same last name so
that the proceeds of this account valued at 25 Million Dollars can be
paid to you and then you and me can share the money. 50% for me and
40% for you and 10% will be used for any expenses that this might cost
on the process of this transaction. I have all necessary legal
documents that can be used to back up any claim we may make.
All I require is your honest co-operation to enable us seeing this
deal through. I guarantee that this transaction will be executed under
a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the
law. It is 100% risk-free.
Please get in touch with me by my private phone number
234-7084845765 to enable us discuss further.
Waiting to hear from you soon, please reply to my alternative email
address on:[barrscotsmith1@yahoo.com]
Best regards,
BARRISTER Mark Done
Telephone 234-7084845765.
Email :( [markdone5050@yahoo.com]
FROM Scott Everest (ESQ)
M.DONE CHAMBERS &CO
#29 UNITY ROAD IKEJA LAGOS.
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