|
|
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 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- 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.
- tianshunkay11@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Tian Shunkang <tianshunkay11@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 22 May 2014 20:05:23 -0700
Subject: From Tian Shunkang
Greetings,
I am Tian Shunkang, an Investment Manager working for a reputable Bank in
Hong Kong. I am contacting you with regards to business transaction I want
us to execute together. The partnership will be about a dormant account
which amounts to Eleven Million, Five Hundred Thousand Dollars belonging to
my late client.
There is an existing ultimatum from the Bank to provide a member of his
family and all efforts to locate any has been proven unsuccessful. I want
to present you as a surviving family member to enable you put a claim to
the funds.
Please kindly indicate your interest for more information by responding to
my private email address: tianshunkay11@gmail.com
Tian Shunkang
|
Anti-fraud resources:
