|
|
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:
- "huge amount of money" (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)
- "there is no risk involved" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Jean Blankert" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <jeanblankertt@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 11 Dec 2012 20:21:37 +0100
Subject: Business Proposition from Netherlands
Greetings to you,
My name is Jean Blankert and I work with a triple A bank here in the Netherlands. I came across you when I was searching for someone that can be interested in a business proposal that I am putting forward.
I have a mutual business project to transfer huge amount of money amounting 8.5 million euro from our bank here to you based on a properly planned out strategy. Further information will be provided upon the receipt of your prompt response and I want you to know that there is no risk involved. I will need us to work together if you are interested and I assure you that I will provide all useful information and documentation as this business needs urgent attention as there is no much time to waste.
Kindly reply me with your private email (for confidential reasons) and telephone number so I can give you more details and explain the procedures of the proposal to you.
Await your swift response.
Thanks and regards,
Jean Blankert
|
Anti-fraud resources:
