|
|
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 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.
- usmancoulibaly01@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Usman Coulibaly <usmancoulibaly01@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 18 Apr 2014 10:52:37 +0000
Subject: Thank you
Hello,
I am Hon.Usman Coulibaly from Lome, Togo. The personal attorney to Mr. Fred
, contractor and businessman. On the 22nd June 2007, my late client, his
wife and their only daughter were involved in a car accident that claimed
their lives.Before his death he deposited the sum of USD$ 8.5 Million in
one of the leading banks here in Togo which the corrupt bank staff wants to
confiscate. Contact my private email address (usmancoulibaly01@gmail.com)
for more details in respect for approval of its property / fund valued
(USD$ 8.5 Million) before it gets confiscated by the bank.
Thank you
Usman Coulibaly.
|
Anti-fraud resources: