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joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
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"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:
- "million united state 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)
- "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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "is 100% risk free" (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.
- This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- 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.
- dilemmasimon@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: general info <franklewis328@outlook.com>
Reply-To: <dilemmasimon@yahoo.com>
Date: Sun, 1 Sep 2013 11:24:28 -0700
Subject: Thanks
Hello,
CONTRACT U.S$50,000 000.00 Million (Fifty Million United State Dollars)
I work in
General Information in the Bank here in South Africa. I contact
you because of the Similarities in your Name to reinvest the dormant
funds/account to you. I have the opportunity to move this amount out of
this country.
The amount of this fund is U.S $50,000 000.00 Million (Fifty Million Dollars) be
rest assured that this deal is 100% risk free. Your will involved as
the original owner of the money because is a foreigner like you. I have
the needed details to claim the fund if your interested.
For your involvement in this Business
partner, you will receive 25% of the total money. Feel free to call or
email me for further clarification and more details and procedures.Email: dilemmasimon@yahoo.com Tel: +27-713557950
Yours Sincerely
Simon Dilemma
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