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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:
- "million british pounds" (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 next of kin scam.
Fraud email example:
From: Gregson Hall <gregsonhall2@hotmail.com>
Date: Thu, 17 Apr 2014 07:23:48 +0000
Subject: Re: I AM WAITING FOR YOUR REPLY.
Hello Dear,
I am Personal attorney to Engr. Douglas, who died with his family as a result of gas explosion. After all investigation even with the relevant embassy has yielded no results showing that there is no living next of kin.I decided to track his last name on net, to locate any Member of his family. Hence I contacted you. I hereby solicit for your immediate response and positive committed efforts to facilitate the fund remittance of total sum £7.5 Million British Pounds Sterling before they get confiscated by the finance company. This fund was left behind with a finance company by my late client.Upon your positive response to this covenant,I will make all necessary information known to you.
Kindly reply me for more details information.
Yours faithfully
Mr Gregson Hall
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Anti-fraud resources: