|
|
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:
- "utmost confidentiality" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: pearson gloria <gloriapearson@yahoo.pt>
Reply-To: pearson gloria <pearsongloria10@yahoo.com>
Date: Fri, 2 Jan 2015 18:41:09 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: HOPE TO HEAR FROM YOU
My Dear,
My Name is Mrs Gloria Pearson, I have been doing God's work for over30yrs now,I AM ALSO THE FOUNDER OF GRACE LIFE MINISTRIES (CHURCH). I am adying woman who has decided to donate what I have to you/church. I am 59years old and I was diagnosed for cancer for about 2 years ago immediatelyafter the death of my husband who has left me everything he worked for andbecause the doctors told me I will not live longer than some weeks becauseof my health I decided to WILL/donate the sum of US$18.5M to you for thegood work of humanity and also to help the motherless and less privilegeand also for the assistance of the widows.
I wish you all the best and may the good Lord bless you abundantly andplease use the funds well and always extend the good work to others. It isver important you forward to me your information
A ) Your full name :B ) Contact addres :C ) Telephone numbers :D ) Your age :E ) Your occupation :
To enable me issue you a LETTER OF AUTHORIZATION to you which you willforward to the bank so that the fund will be transfer to your account assoon as i hear from you i will give you the contact information of thebank account officer,tell him that I have WILLED my us$18.5M to you and Ihave also notified him.
I know I don't know you but I have been directed to do this by Godalmighty.Thanks and God bless
NB: I will appreciate your utmost confidentiality in this matter until thetask is accomplished as i don't want anything that will jeopardize my lastwish.
Regards,
Mrs Gloria Pearson
|
Anti-fraud resources:
