|
|
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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- 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.
- maxwellmoore@mynet.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Maxwell Moore <maxwellmoore1925@msn.com>
Reply-To: maxwellmoore@mynet.com
Date: Thu, 3 May 2012 19:33:45 +0000
Subject: Dear friend
Dear friend,
My name is Mr Maxwell Moore,am writing you this mail for something very important. I have packaged a financial transaction that will benefit you and I. There is an amount of money valued at 4.2 Million dollars (U.S DOLLARS) in my bank belonging to our late customer Mr Andreas Schanner who died long ago without indicating his next of kin to our bank where he deposited this money.
I want to present you as the next of kin to Mr Andreas Schanner so that the bank will accord you the right and transfer the funds into your account, after that we will share the money according to this percentage. I will take 55% of it, while you will have the rest 45%. Kindly indicate your interest so that i can give you more information by replying to this address: maxwellmoore@mynet.com
Am expecting your response.
Regards,
Mr Maxwell Moore
|
Anti-fraud resources:
