|
|
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:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "dearest one," (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: inrequest <inrequest205@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Mon, 22 Apr 2013 16:55:33 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: From Click & Janet Mechi
Dearest One,
REQUEST TO BE OUR GUARDIAN AND THEN HELP US THUS:
Good day and how are you today? After going through your profile, permit us
To inform you of our desire of asking you to be a guardian or foster parent to us
And then help us out in what we are about to tell you. I'm Click Mechi (20years)
And have a younger Sister Janet (17years).
We are the children of Late Mr. & Mrs.MECHI A. JOHN. Who dies in Kenya
Airways crash in 2009. So we are soliciting your help for helping us transferring our
heritance of (USD$3.500, 000.00) out of this place.
Please we need your urgent assistant,
We awaited your reply.
Regards.
Click & Janet Mechi
|
Anti-fraud resources:
