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joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
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"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:
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "barr." (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.
- 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.
- barr.georgenana@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: George Nana <barr.georgenana1@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 31 Jul 2014 00:18:30 +0100
Subject: Attn. please and a good day to you
Attn. please and a good day to you, I have an important proposal to share
with you which will benefit both of us.
Am barrister George Nana, a solicitor at law and an attorney to a national
of your country whose life and that of his entire family was lapsed in a
car crash at the Tema motorway here in Accra Ghana.
The deceased was a successful business man and has an account valued
US$3,200,000.00.
This account has been unserviceable for a long time and the bank has
threatened to have the fund confiscated if no next of kin is presented.
All efforts I made towards locating my clients extended relatives was all
in vain so I decided to contact you because he has the same last name with
you.
My proposition to you is to present you as the next of kin and beneficiary
to this account since you have the same last name with the deceased, so
that the proceeds of this account can be paid to you. This will be
disbursed or shared 60% to me and 40% to you.
This will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you
and I from any breach of the law as I have all legal documents to back you
up as the next-of-kin to the deceased.
All I require is your honest co-operation to enable us see this transaction
through.
You should email me via my private email address
barr.georgenana@gmail.com
for more details and clarification on how to proceed.
Regards
George
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