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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:
- 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)
- "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)
- "my names are " (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.
- 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.
- ofi@yahoo.co.uk (Yahoo, United Kingdom; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: <info34@agbororganization.onmicrosoft.com>
Reply-To: <james23kofi@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Fri, 1 Nov 2013 16:38:09 +0530
Subject: GOOD DAY
GOOD DAY, IT GIVES ME A GREAT PLEASURE TO EMAIL YOU KNOWING YOU ARE THERE T=
O ASSIST ME AND UNDERSTAND ME. WHEN IT COMES TO BUSSINESS LIKE THIS,PEOPLE =
LIKE YOU WITH A GREAT PROFILE WILL BE THE FIRST TO CONTACT. MY NAMES ARE MR=
. JAMES KOFI AND I WORK WITH THE UNITED NATIONS,I WAS TRANSFERED TO LONDON =
MONTHS AGO AND EVER SINCE I HAVE BEEN GOING THROUGH SOME PROFILE AND I FOUN=
D YOURS CAPTIVATING. DURING MY YEARS IN SERRIA LEONE AS A REPRESENTATIVE UN=
DER THE HIGH COMMISSION FOR REFUGEES, ME AND MY COLLEAGUECAME ACCROSS SO MA=
NY THINGS AND ONE OF THOSE THINGS IS A LARGE SUM OF MONEY IN DOLLARS WORTH$=
27.5 MILLION DOLLARS WHICH I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DEPOSIT IN A DIPLOMATIC SECU=
RITY COMPANY FOR SAFE KEEPING.WHAT ME AND MY COLLEAGUE WANTS FROM YOU IS AS=
A RESPECTED IN YOUR COUNTRY AS GOOD CITIZEN, I WOULD LIKE TO INVEST SOME H=
UGE AMOUNT OF THAT MONEY IN YOUR COUNTRY BASE ON THE FAST GROWING ECONOMY R=
ATED BY THE UNITED NATIONS AND I NEED YOU TO HELP AND ADVICE ME MORE ON THE=
AREA OF INVESTMNT THAT WILL BE PROFITABLE AND LONG LASTING. OF WHICH YOU W=
ILL BE A MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. DEAR FRIEND I AM READY TO GIVE O=
UT SOME PERCENTAGE TO YOU INCASE OF ANY EXPENDITURE LOCALLY AND INTERNATION=
ALLY. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED, SEND ME A MAIL VIA MY PRIVATE E-MAIL (james23k=
ofi@yahoo.co.uk )INDICATING YOUR INTEREST SO WE CAN DISCUSS THE PROCESS IN =
PERSON AND FINALISE THE PROCEEDING.PLEASE TREAT THIS MAIL WITH SECRECY AND =
CONFIDENTIAL FOR $27.5 MILLION IS NOT CHILD PLAY. HOPING FOR YOUR BEST CO-O=
PERATION. BEST REGARDS. JAMES KOFI
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