|
|
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.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "dormant account" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
- This email message is a next of kin 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.
- infocolawyer@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Info @ Chris @ Osibeego" <chrisosibeego55@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 6 Apr 2014 10:36:38 +0200
Subject:
Greetings,
I know this would come as a great surprise to you but I urge you to
evaluate this opportunity carefully and then get back to me with an
answer. I am contacting you to assist me with repatriating funds
(US$9.2MILLION) belonging to Late client, who happens to be my late
client. The fund in question is currently in a dormant account in the
Finance Institute where it was deposited. The reason I am contacting
you is because you share the same last name with the deceased. I am
also aware that you might not be directly related to him but having
the same last name gives us an advantage and opportunity. If you are
interested, get back to me and I will give you all other neccessary
information regarding this on condition of complete discretion on your
part.
Please channel your urgent response via email account for quick event
response (infocolawyer@yahoo.com)
Too often you have a month left over at the end of your inheritance to
be release,feel free to get intouch with me to above email account to
enable the unholding Institution acknowlegde your presence.
Best Regards.
CHRIS OSIBEEGO.
|
Anti-fraud resources:
