|
|
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:
- "million us 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)
- "top secret" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
- 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.
- alexanderleonard.offshore@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Alexander Leonard" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <alexanderleonard.offshore@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 6 Oct 2013 11:34:09 -0800
Subject: PLEASE CAN YOU HANDLE THIS DEAL WITH ME?
Hello Dear,
I am Mr Alexander Leonard, an offshore consultant working with AKB Private Bank Zurich AG. I have just discovered 50 million US Dollars
that was deposited by one late client who died in a plane crash so I just need a trusted person who will
stand as the next of kin so that we can transfer the money out from my bank and share it 50/50 so if you are
interested please reply only to my direct private email address: alexanderleonard.offshore@gmail.com
Also send me your full name, address and mobile phone number so we can discus.
Please you must keep this top secret and rest assured that this transaction would be most profitable for both of us because I shall require your assistance to invest my share in your country.
PLEASE REPLY ONLY TO THIS EMAIL: alexanderleonard.offshore@gmail.com
I am waiting for your reply
Regards,
Alexander Leonard
|
Anti-fraud resources:
