|
|
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:
- This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "will come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "million united states 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)
- "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs. Maria Layfield" <office@office.co.uk>
Reply-To: <m.layfield014@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 26 May 2014 04:26:24 -0700
Subject: ***BULK*** PLEASE GET BACK TO ME!!
I am Mrs. Maria Layfield, You don't know me and i know this message will come to you as a surprise, My late husband Mr. John Layfield Estates here in Florida and most parts of Europe before he passed away. We were unable to have kids and my husband and i have always lived a certain quite life style, he had business associates who i still believe till today had a hand in my husband death in 2008. I am writing you this message because i was recently diagnosed with cancer and my doctor said its bad as it is right now.
My husband made a fixed deposit 6 million United States Dollars with my name in 2006 with Barclay's bank United Kingdom he wanted it to be safe over there as he was having some problem with his associates here in the States. I am current in a local hospital here in Florida and the only person i can really trust right now is my husband's lawyer. Barrister Steve McDaniel. Please i want you to receive this funds and use it for the needy and less privileged around you, I can't even leave the hospital as it is right now. Please get back to me if you can stand as the beneficiary of this funds and my lawyer will work with you for the transfer of the funds to your account. This is 100% risk free so please consider my situation and help me do this, This will be my last wish on this earth. May God bless you. I will give you more details and prove of deposit from the bank in case you are having some doubts.
Mrs. Maria Layfied.
|
Anti-fraud resources:
