|
|
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:
- "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "contact me immediately" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "mariam mohammad" <mariammohammad959@yahoo.co.uk>
Reply-To: mariam_mohammad@rocketmail.com
Date: Sun, 29 Apr 2012 21:53:03 -0300
Subject: please i need your urgent responses for investment
ATTENTION MY DEAR,
i want to use this opportunity to introduce myself to you i am the wife of ex
minister of
Libya my husband was killed by the late president Muammar Gadafi of Libya
since after
the death of my husband i have been looking for a way out of Libya with my
only son
because Libya is not good again for me to stay and work i have decided to come
over to
your country to stay and invest the money which my late husband deposited in
your
country with my name for REAL ESTATE investment before he was killed by the
late
president of Libya so please i will like you to contact me immediately so that
i will tell you
where the funds have been deposited in your country to enable you claim it
before my
arrive in your country please this is a good opportunity for me to live a
good life in your
country i need your trust and hones tee forward me all your full name and
your contact i
mean all about you, remember this is a secret for both of us know one should
know about
this,
thanks
Mrs Mariam Mohammad
|
Anti-fraud resources:
