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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:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Sumbre R Jimmy <rajojo61@hotmail.com>
Date: Thu, 20 Mar 2014 18:09:00 -0400
Subject: COMPENSATION
Dear friend
It
is great pleasure to inform you that I have succeeded in transferring
the funds with the help of a new partner from Paraguay Mr Fernando
Alvaro Gomez.
I
have decided to compensate you with the sum of US$850.000,00 (Eight Hundred & Fifty Thousand United States Dollars) in a
Cashier's Cheque even though we couldn't finalize the transaction together. I did this simply to show appreciation for your
willingness to assist.
Presently I am in Paraguay for investment project under the advice of my new partner. l oblige you to contact my attorney:
Desmond Williams
Williams & Associates
493 Kwame Nkruma way, Accra Ghana
E-mail: ( williams.assoc@live.com )
and direct him on how to send the Cheque to you. Do let me know
immediately as you cash the Cheque so that we will share the joy
together. Feel free to get in touch with him
without any delay.
Regards
Sumbre Jimmy
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Anti-fraud resources: