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joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
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"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:
- "hundred thousand united state 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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "abidjan" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- This email message is a orphan 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.
- faithmatthew200@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: FAITH MATTHEW <faithmatthew200@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 17 Sep 2012 15:38:01 +0800 (SGT)
Subject: Hello Dear,
Hello Dear,
I'
am Miss Faith Matthew 19 years the only child of late Mr.
and
Mrs. Jean Matthew . My father was a very wealthy cocoa merchant and
political godfather in Cote d'Ivoire, my father was shot to death on
Januray 2011 by on known people.
Before the death of my father in
a private hospital here, he secretly called me on his bed side and told
me he has the sum of three million two hundred thousand
united state dollars. ($3.2 millions) in an account of fixed/suspend in
one of the prime bank here in Abidjan that he used my name as his only
child for the next of Kin in depositing of the funds. He also explained
that it was because of this wealth that he was kill and warmed me about
his brother.
I want you to help me with the following:
(1) To provide a bank account
that money will be transferred.
(2) To serve as guardian.
(3) To arrange
for me to come to your country to continue my studies to obtain a residence permit in your country.
I
will offer you 20% of the total sum as compensation for your effort
after the successful transfer of this money into your nominated account.
Waiting to hear from you, please reply me if you can help me sincerely.
Yours sincerely
Faith Matthew
please my dear one contact me email
address(faithmatthew200@gmail.com)
Thanks
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