|
|
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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- ",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)
- "remain blessed" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- "emmke@e-mail.ua" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr.Chafa David" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <david.chafa6@globomail.com>
Date: Tue, 16 Apr 2013 10:45:25 +0200
Subject: DEAR FRIEND
Dear Friend
Compliments of the day and God's blessings
I am glad to inform you that I have successfully concluded the t r a n s a c t i o n, the m o n e y t r a n s f e r r e d to Dubai UAE. It was t r a n s f e r r e d through the assistant of your country man Mr. Howard Ferraro who is a Dubai base business man. Currently I am in London with him, my wife and children.
In appreciate of your assistance I have mapped out as a compensation and wrote on your favor a D r a f t worth of US$5,000,000.00 I left the D r a f t with my a t t o r n e y Sir.Kepe Emmanuel on my departure to Dubai. I would like you therefore, to contact him on the below info so that he can mail it to you.
Attn: Sir. Kepe Emmanuel
E m a i l: emmke@e-mail.ua
T e l: + 2 3 4 8 1 2 2 5 2 0 5 9 9
Contact my a t t o r n e y so that he can release your D r a f t to you. I will stop here. Once again, thank you very much and remain blessed.
Mr.Chafa David
|
Anti-fraud resources:
