|
|
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:
- "hundred thousand 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)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned 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.
- managementmanagement110@yahoo.ca (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Federal ministry of finance <patrickdiego671@gmail.com>
Reply-To: managementmanagement110@yahoo.ca
Date: Thu, 21 Nov 2013 11:05:21 +0100
Subject: contact Mr.Luna in charged for releasing $20.5M
Sir/Madam,
Note that this office is instructed to pay you $20.5M ( Twenty
million five hundred thousand US dollars) by European security
leading team and America representative personal called Mr.John
M.Luna of Arizona USA Email:(managementmanagement110@yahoo.ca) Phone
: +7025034918 .
You will be receiving $20.5M into your account or via ATM
immediately you contact Mr.John M.Luna in Arizona USA
Email:(managementmanagement110@yahoo.ca) Phone : +7025034918 .
Be also informed that we have sent total sum of $20.5M dollars to
you this morning through bank account belonging to Mr.John M.Luna .
You have only 48 hours to contact Mr.John M.Luna in USA for
receiving maximum amount of $20.5M through his national bank account
in Arizona USA .
Further more you advised to contact Mr.Luna in charged for
releasing $20.5M to you . Mr.Luna shall pay you immediately you
contact him as order was given to him' so that you will confirm the
$20.5M within 48 hours through Mr.John M.Luna in Arizona.USA
Signed.
..............................................
Mr.Christina Okafor.
Director
Federal ministry of finance
Cotonou Benin Republicc
|
Anti-fraud resources: