|
|
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:
- "utmost confidentiality" (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 "dying widow" scam.
- 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.
- mrs.marydh@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs. Mary Dhansou" <atmcrd250@gmail.com>
Reply-To: mrs.marydh@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 30 Apr 2012 17:42:55 +0100 (BST)
Subject: Good Day My Dear,
Good Day My Dear,
My name is Mrs. Mary Dhansou.I am a dying woman who has decided to donate what I have to the care and development of those that cannot afford the basic necessities of life having known my condition.I chose you as a competent and trustworthy person that will use this fund to help the less previledged, widows after a very prayers and meditations. The holly Bible made us to understand that blessed are the hand that gives. I took this decision because I don’t have any child or relation.
I am 59 years old woman and I was diagnosed of cancer for about 2 years ago after the death of my husband.I have since been suffering the pains but the doctor was bold enough to tell me few days ago that I cannot survive the next few weeks and hence my decision to give all that my husband has willed to me to someone like you to use it in establishing a charity that will take care of the needy. I decided to WILL / donate the sum of $7.200 000 (Seven million two hundred thousand USD) to you / for the good work of humanity and also to help the motherless and less privilege ones and also for the assistance of the widows in like manner.
In accepting this offer,I will direct you to my legal attorney who will guide you on how to claim the funds since you may not be in the position to take atrip here to conclude the process of claiming the money.Do understand that I have no child of mine and my relations abandoned me long time ago because they refused to bless my marriage to my late husband who was very loving and caring until his death.My husbands relations are after me because I did not have a child and because of the wealth that my husband left for me
NB: I will appreciate your utmost confidentiality in this matter until the task is accomplished as I don't want anything that will jeopardize my last wish to God.
Sincerely,
Mary Dhansou
E-mail;mrs.marydh@gmail.com
|
Anti-fraud resources:
