|
|
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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "a security company " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "huge amount of money" (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)
- "trunk box" (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)
- "trunk boxes" (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)
- "million united state 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)
- "urgent assistance" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "is highly confidential" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
- Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
Fraud email example:
From: "BARRISTER HESSE NARTEY" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <barristerhessenartey111@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 14 Jun 2014 01:00:11 -0700
Subject: URGENT ATTENTION
DEAR FRIEND,
MY NAME IS BARRISTER HESSE NARTEY AN ATTORNEY A CITIZEN OF GHANA IN AFRICA . I WANT TO INTRODUCE A TRANSAC TION TO YOU THAT NEED URGENT ASSISTANCE AND PARTNERSHIP .
I HAVE A CLIENT WHO WAS A FORMER FINANCE MINISTER FROM IVORY COAST . WHO DIED IN 2011 .
HE DEPOSITED SOME HUGE AMOUNT OF MONEY IN A SECURITY COMPANY HERE IN GHANA . THE AMOUNT IS 21 MILLION UNITED STATE DOLLARS . THIS MONEY WAS KEPT IN TWO TRUNK BOXES . AND KEPT IN A SECURITY COMPANY HERE IN GHANA FOR SAFE KEEPING . NON OF HIS FAMILY MEMBER WAS AWARE OF THIS TRANSACTION . EVER SINCE HE DIED NO BODY HAVE ASK ME OF THIS TRANSACTION .
I WANT US TO WORK AS PARTNERS IF YOUR TRUST IS SHOWN TO ME . TO ENABLE ME INTRODUCE YOU TO THE SECURITY COMPANY AS THE NEXT OF KIN . THEN WE CAN MAKE THE CLAIM OF THE FUND AND TRANSFER IT OUT OF GHANA TO YOUR COUNTRY FOR INVESTMENT . THE SHARE WILL BE 50% EACH .
ALL LEGAL DOCUMENTS AND IDENTITY COPIES OF MY CLIENT ARE FULLY INTACT .
PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU READY TO WORK WITH ME IN THIS TRANSACTION BY REPLYING MY EMAIL TO ENABLE FURNISH WITH MORE VITAL DETAILS .
NOTE ; THIS TRANSACTION IS HIGHLY CONFIDENTIAL BETWEEN BOTH OF US .
YOURS SINCERELY
BARRISTER HESSE NARTEY
|
Anti-fraud resources:
