|
|
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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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:
- "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- "million 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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- 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.
- gracerichar@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: MRS GRACE RICHARD <captainmartinalbert@gmail.com>
Reply-To: gracerichar@hotmail.com
Date: Wed, 26 Dec 2012 06:56:08 -0800
Subject: CAN I TRUST YOU?
Dear Sir/madam
My name is Mrs. Grace Richards I am 63 years old, I am a dying woman
who have decided to donate
what I have to you/churches/ motherless babies/less
privileged/widows.I was diagnosed for cancer
for about 2 years ago. I have been touched by God to donate from what
I have inherited from my late
husband to you for good work of god. I have asked God to forgive me
and believe he has because he
is a merciful God. I will be going in for an operation Monday.I
decided to WILL/donate the sum of
7.7 million dollars to you for the good work of God, and also to help
the motherless and less
privilege and also for the assistance of the widows. At the moment I
cannot take any telephone
calls right now due to the fact that my relatives (That have
squandered the funds I gave them for
this purpose before) are around me and my health status also.
I have adjusted my WILL and my lawyer is aware. I wish you all the
best and may the good God bless
you abundantly, and please use the Funds judiciously and always extend
the good work to others. As
soon you get back to me, I shall give you info on what I need from you
then you will contact my
bank and tell them I have willed (7.7 million dollars) to you by
quoting my personal reference
number: Jlk/Wds/95773/50015/GwrI/3196us/uk and I have also notified my
bank that I am willing that
amount to you for a good, effective and prudent work. I know I don't
know you but I have been
directed to do this by God.
If your interested to work for me with this fund reply only to this my
private email address(gracerichar@hotmail.com)
Thanks and God bless.
Regards,
Mrs. Grace Richards.
|
Anti-fraud resources:
