|
|
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 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.
- 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.
- patrickjooh@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: PATRICK JOHN <joy4smith@gmail.com>
Reply-To: patrickjooh@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 30 Jun 2014 11:30:01 +0000
Subject: Urgent Attention Required
Head of file Department.
African development bank (A.D.B)
Burkina Faso.
E-mail: patrickjooh@gmail.com.
Telephone +22664189002.
With due respect,
Forgive my indignation if this message comes to you as a surprise, I
assured of your capability and reliability to champion this business
opportunity. I am (Mr Patrick John) the Head of file Department in
African development bank (A.D.B). In my department we discovered an
abandoned sum of $15 million U.S.A dollars. In an account that belongs
to one of our foreign customer who died along with all his family in
the Asia Earth Quake Disaster and all the relation died along side
with him at the Earth Quake Disaster leaving nobody behind for the
claim.
I want you stand as next of kin to the deceased. I agree that 40% of
this money will be for you as foreign partner, in respect to the
provision of a foreign account and 60% would be for me. Upon receipt
of your reply, I will send to you by email the text of the application
I will not fail to bring to your notice that this transaction is hitch
free and that you should not entertain any atom of fear as all
required arrangements have been made for the transfer.
I am waiting for your immediate response as you receive this mail.
Yours faithfully,
Mr Patrick John.
(FILL THIS FORM BELLOW AND RESEND IT TO ME WITH THIS EMAIL
(patrickjooh@gmail.com).
1) Your Full Name....
2) Your Age.....
3) Marital Status......
4) Your Cell Phone Number...
5) Your Fax Number....
6) Your Country.......
7) Your Occupation....
8) Sex............
9) Your Religion......
10) Your Private E-mail Address..
You have to keep everything secret as to enable the transfer to move
very smoothly in to the account you will prove to the bank. Reply back
with this email (patrickjooh@gmail.com).
Telephone number +22664189002
|
Anti-fraud resources:
