|
|
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:
- "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
Fraud email example:
From: "Dr.John Faed" <dr.johnfaed@voila.fr>
Reply-To: dr.johnfaed64@yahoo.com
Date: Thu, 24 Oct 2013 05:39:43 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Please I want you to patiently read this offer.
Good day my good friend,
Please I want you to patiently read this offer.
I am Mrs. Mari Amzongo Hariri the third wife of Late Mr. Rafik Hariri the former Lebanese Prime ministry. My husband was also the linkman between the Organization for the Petroleum importer transit Head Delegation to the board Africa rejoin. He was from the 'OAR' meeting in Geneva before his sudden death caused by car accident as result of assassination in our home town. I want you to assist me put claim over this money the sum of ($12.5M) From my late lovely husband as I cannot claim it directly because he made the deposit as a Money that belong to his business associate in order not to raise eye brow because he was in sit during that time.
And the code constitution of
Lebanon forbids him or any of his wife to acquire such amount of money personally because of his position in government sit.Therefore Sir, I am contacting you to assist me put claim over this fund,meanwhile I have procured all the needed documents to enable this claim stand firm including the deposit certificate of this said fund that will be only amend with your name as the beneficiary for the urgent release of this fund into your account. I will not fail to bring to your notice that this transaction is 100% risk free and doesn't have any negative implication so you should not entertain any fear at all.
However if you can conveniently assure me of your ability of handling this transaction with trust and honesty that you will not betray my trust then you can write me back to enable me forward you the full details and the bank contact where the fund was deposited so we can proceed ahead.
Expecting your urgent response .
Best regards,
Mrs. Mari Amzongo
|
Anti-fraud resources:
