|
|
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.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- 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.
- reeree.towers1@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
- me on both emails below best regards renee towers reeree.towers1@gmail.com riritowers@yahoo.com (Gmail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: RENEE TOWERS <reeree.towers1@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 12 Aug 2014 14:14:56 +0000
Subject: Guarantor need
--
Hi
I am Renee Towers, 17 years old from Ohio United States of America. I
was raised up by a single mother who was a missionary before she died.
My mother was running a ranch in the Caribbean before she died
I am passing through a lot of financial problem due to death of my
mother. Before her death she willed her properties to me but had
instructed the bank management that before the money will be released
to me that I must get to the age of marriage or present my husband or
a guardian being a (woman /man) to the bank before they can release
the money worth $6.9 Million United States Dollars to me.
I saw your data on the net and I was ministered in my heart to contact
you to help me out with this. All I want from you is to stand as my
guardian and get the money transferred into your account and then I
will come over complete my education. I will also love it if you can
manage/invest my inheritance for me until I can be able to manage or
invest the fund properly.
I have been assaulted and beaten several times. My uncle raped me some
months ago and threatened that if I tell anybody about the rape that
he will make sure that I suffer and that he will make sure I do not
get anything from my mother's estate. He is an evil man and I believe
he can do what he says he can so I am scared and have been suffering
within. I am deeply troubled and some times I want to run away but
don't know what to do. He is well connected here and is a friend to
the mayor and some officers in the police here. Please you have to
help me get out of the situation I am in now. I have no one to help me
here and I am going through a tough period.
Please reach me on both emails below
Best regards
Renee Towers
reeree.towers1@gmail.com
riritowers@yahoo.com
|
Anti-fraud resources:
