|
|
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:
- "a security company " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "trunk box" (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: Mento Cele <mentocele1@yahoo.fr>
Reply-To: mentocele5@yahoo.com
Date: Sun, 23 Dec 2012 20:18:15 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: Assalamu alaykum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.
Assalamu alaykum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.
My Dear,
My dear, I know that this is going to be a suprise mail to you.
I am a typical Muslim woman. My name is Haniya Abdul Aziz from Libya. My husband was killied in Libya during the crisis. I need your help and your advice. Can you assist me in securing the fund which my late husband deposited under my name in a Security company in London. A total of $ 6.5 millions dollars,This deposit was coded under a secret arrangement as a family treasure. This means that the security company does not even know the content of this trunk box.
My late husband was Aide to late President Muammar Gaddafi. I am not in Libya ever since trouble started because all the officials that served under the regime of late President Muammar Gaddafi ran away from Libya.
I want you to help me in securing the money in the box for the future of my children. Since my late husband died things has not been the same. I stay somewhere in Africa. Please do not be afraid. I cannot put you into trouble. I am a careful person. I need your quick reply. I hope to trust you as who will not sit on this money when you claim it.I will give you 15% of the total money after you have successfully secured this deposited box.
I will give you more confidential details as soon as I receive your positive reply.Contact on this email address for more details.
Yours sincerely,
Haniya Abdul Aziz
|
Anti-fraud resources:
