|
|
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)
- "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.
Fraud email example:
From: =?iso-8859-1?Q?Amitie_sinc=E9re?= <amitiesincere@msn.com>
Reply-To: mrssafiagaddaf@yahoo.com
Date: Sun, 22 Jul 2012 21:55:50 +0100 (BST)
Subject: Dearest
Dear,
I have decided to engage myself in humanitarian work and divine to help the needy after my experience, My name is Mrs Safia Farkashi Gaddafi from Libya the first lady, After all that happened to me and my family i have realised that this world is vanity open vanity so i have decided to use %30 of what we acquired to help the needy it is a call from God and i have chosen you as my project manager to manager this project for me and to invest the remaining of the funds in a lucretive business for my only son, use %30 for the less priviledges and moderless.
I will like you to provide moderless homes for the motherless babies around you i need your help to realise this dream it is what i promise God. Right now i am having percial stroke because of thinking i am not fisicaly fit since i lost my husband and my three sons please i need you to help my remaining son and invest this money for us and accomplish this my promise to God also. for keeping us alive till now. If God has puting us in contact it is for good and for you to realise this dream for me and the poor out there and i believe you will not hesitate.
I write to obtain your co-operation in other to send the legal documents for you on how you can contact the financial diplomatic institution for the claim of the funds.$19.000.000 Nineteen million dollars and you will take my son and I after you receive the funds for a better life in your country I wait to hear from you for directives May God bless you in advance for your acceptance in this issue. It will be my pleasure if this dream of mine will remain confidential. May God bless you for your help Amen.
Yours sincerely
Mrs Safia Farkashi Gaddafi
|
Anti-fraud resources:
