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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:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "hundred thousand u.s 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)
- "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
Fraud email example:
From: Clinton Jackel <clinjwills@hotmail.com>
Date: Fri, 19 Oct 2012 23:49:28 -0400
Subject: REF...........LETTER
Good day,
How are you today?
My name is Barrister Clinton Jackel, a legal practitioner attached to
the legal department of the Nigerian National petroleum corporation
(NNPC) I was recently contracted by the finance director to assist him
make a contact of a foreigner who will assist him siphon the sum of
twelve million three hundred thousand U.S dollars ($12.3m) out of the
floating account of the corporation into a foreign account.
The money is as a result of an over invoiced contract executed to the
corporation by a foreign firm whose original contract sum has been
fully paid.
All arrangements needed to transfer this money into any foreign
account if provided by you has been perfectly put in place. The
transaction is 100% risk free and hitch free, you have only to
maintain absolute confidentiality which a transaction of the magnitude
deserves and also promise not to betray the trust and confidence
reposed in you when the fund will be transferred into your account as
I will on behalf of the finance director come over to meet with you
for the sharing of the money. 60% for the director and his colleagues
while %40 for you. Your assistance may be required in any good area of
investment in your country.
Thanks for your anticipated cooperation
Barrister Clinton Jackel
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