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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.
- 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)
- "hundred thousand 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)
- "top secret" (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)
- 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.
- gladismorgan1@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs. Gladis Morgan" <gladismorgan1@gmail.com>
Reply-To: gladismorgan4@gmail.com
Date: Sat, 02 Aug 2014 03:49:06 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: FROM: MRS. GLADIS MORGAN
FROM: MRS. GLADIS MORGAN
AUDITING AND ACCOUNTING UNIT
FOREIGN REMITTANCE DEPT
AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK (ADB)
ANNEX OUAGADOUGOU BURKINA FASO.
Private Email: gladismorgan1@gmail.com
Dear Friend,
This message might meet you in utmost surprise; however, it's just my urgent need for a foreign partner that made me to contact you for this transaction. I am a banker by profession with the (AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK (ADB) BURKINA FASO and currently holding a post as the Director of Auditing and Accounting unit of the bank.
I have the opportunity of transferring the left over funds Eighteen Million Five Hundred Thousand United State Dollars ($18.5million) originally owned by one of my bank clients Mr. Kurt Kahle who died along with his entire family on 31 July 2000 in a plane crash.
You can confirm genuinely the deceased?s death by logging into this web site http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/859479.stm
Meanwhile the whole arrangements and directives needed to put claim over this fund as the bona-fide next of kin to the deceased will be forward to you upon your acceptance, information will be relayed to you as soon as you indicate your interest and willingness to assist us and also benefit your self to this great business opportunity.
Hence, I am inviting you for a business deal where this money can be shared between us in the ratio of 60% for me and 40% for you.
Please, you have been advised to keep this as top secret as I am still in service and intend to retire from active service after I conclude this deal with you. I will be monitoring the whole situation here in the bank until you confirm that the money is in your account and ask me to come down to your country for subsequent sharing of the fund according to the percentages previously indicated above and for further investment, either in your country or any other country you may advice me to invest in. All other necessary information will be sent to you when I hear from you.
I suggest you get back to me as soon as possible stating your willingness to assist and be fully involved in this deal. Furthermore please contact me through my private Email Address: gladismorgan1@gmail.com above for more information
Best Regards
Mrs. Gladis Morgan
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