|
|
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:
- ",000,000" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "i got your email address from " (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
- "remain blessed" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Rev Mother Catherine Emmanuel" <charlghan@yahoo.co.nz>
Reply-To: revmothercatherineemmanuel@ymail.com
Date: Tue, 18 Sep 2012 14:47:30 +0300 (EEST)
Subject: FROM REV. MOTHER CATHERINE EMMANUEL
FROM REV. MOTHER CATHERINE EMMANUEL
Dear Heavenly Friend,
May the peace of the Lord always be with you? My name is Rev Mother Catherine
Emmanuel; I am 82 years old now. I have been suffering in the sick bed for the
past 5 years. Now I believe that my time has come to join my ancestors in
heaven.
I got your email address from the Internet, as the spirit of Almighty God
directed me to contact you for this charitable work. I have $8,000,000.00
deposited in a safe location which I want you to claim on my behalf for an
important charitable project. I choose to hand over this money to you for this
charitable work which l know you have desire for people in need.
I hope you will honestly do this for me, if yes please forward to me your
particulars and your contact information like private phone and fax numbers so
that i will send it to the Finance firm immediately.
Finally, I will like to know what you do for a living so that I can be able to
know if your work is going to allow you to handle this project that I am
committing into your hand to the glory of God. Get back to me as soon as
possible.
Thank and Remain blessed in the Lord as you reply strictly and only through
this email address (revmothercatherineemmanuel@ymail.com).
My best regards
Rev Mother Catherine Emmanuel
|
Anti-fraud resources:
