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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "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)
- This email message is a "dying widow" 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.
- mediincustx@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: John Jankovich <john_jankovich@hotmail.com>
Date: Wed, 26 Mar 2014 17:31:24 +0000
Subject: REPLY
Greetings My Beloved,
RE: RECEIVE THE SUM OF $5MILLION IN YOUR ACCOUNT FOR CHARITY WORK
I am 53 years old woman from France, but based in Ivory Coast. I was married to Late Paul Madou who was a contractor with the government of Cote D'Ivoire before he died after few days in the hospital.
I am a business woman dealing with cocoa exportation when my late husband was alive he deposited the sum of $5 Million Dollars with a Bank in Cote d lvoire. presently this money is still in the custody of the Bank here in Cote dIvoire.
My Doctor told me that it is very likely I will die within few days or months due to a blood cancer {LUCAMIA}.I have decided to donate the money
for charity to you since I do not have a child to inherit it and its better I do not die leaving the money here without it reaching to the poor and the less privileged ones in the society. As soon as I receive your reply I shall tell my bank to transfer the money to your bank account.
Please always pray for me so that will God give me more good health to stay in this world. Pray for me soon I will be going for a heart operation. I pray and ask God for a divine favor I wish you the best of luck and a happy and peaceful week.
Please contact me with the following information.
Your full name
Your bank account number.
Your telephone
Reply to my private email: mediincustx@gmail.com
God bless you and your family.
Mrs. Adele Madou.
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