|
|
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.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- 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.
- mariam.savimbi@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: MARIAM SAVIMBI <mariam_savimbi@yahoo.com.ph>
Date: Sat, 26 May 2012 17:42:14 +0800 (SGT)
Subject: FROM MRS. MARIAM SAVIMB
FROM MRS. MARIAM SAVIMBIâ€
Dear Beloved.
I am Mrs. Mariam Savimbi, I saw your contact and i am much intrested in you and i will like you to respond willingly after reading this mail as i have very important thing to talk with you for our both benefit and betterment. I am married to Dr. Clement Savimbi who worked with Ghana Embassy in Ivory Coast for nine years before he died. We were married for fifteen years with only one child. My late husband died after a brief illness that lasted for only four days.
Before his death we were living together in good harmony. When my late husband was alive he deposited the sum of $5.7 Million (FIVE MILLION SEVEN HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS) in the Bank here in Cote D'Ivoire formally called (Ivory Coast). I can not handle the transaction due to i am very sick and the doctors advise that i need to have special medication. I am sending you this message from the hospital where i am admitted because of what the doctor called Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD).
As soon as I receive your reply I shall get back to you with the detail. I promise to give you 20% of the total sum for your willful assistance in this transaction.
Waiting for your urgent reply.
Regards,
Mrs Mariam Savimbi.
My Private Email address: mariam.savimbi@hotmail.com
|
Anti-fraud resources:
