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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:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "huge amount of money" (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)
- "waiting for your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "my names are " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- This email message is a orphan scam.
Fraud email example:
From: stella cho <stellacho733@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 15 Jan 2015 14:06:20 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: Complement of the season
 Dear one.. my greetings to you.
My dear one, happy new year and compliments of the season,My names are Stella Cho. Iam a girl of 22 years from Republic of Cote dâ ivoire. I got your email contact during my research on internet. Iâm contacting you for assistance. My fathers was an ex-diplomat to the United Nations while my Mother was working with the national department of education. my father was poisoned by his business partner who wanted to claim his fund that was the cause of my father's death in one of the private hospital here in Republic of Ghana. Before the dealth of My late father, he deposited the sum of $10.5millionUSD in bank. I want someone who is capable to handle this fund in a profitable investment till the period i will finish my school. This is my reason of searching for an international good partner Education . my mother died when i was 16yrs old. I have been in search of someone that can help me to invest my late father's fund and make it possible for me to leave my country to continue my education abroad.
I don't want to make mistakes because i have not managed a huge amount of money or involved in any transaction . please i will like you to give me a helping hand to get this money out from bank to your country for a good investment .
I have contacted bank for the release of the fund..They told me that the enclosed funds is not withdrawable only transferable. This was an order my late father to help me receive the fund for a profitable investment.
My reason of contacting you is because bank is demanding for an account where the fund can be transferred. This is the main reason of i'm contacting you for assistance base on commission if you don't mind. I want to know if you're interested in helping me and your conditions of helping me get this fund out from bank. I will be waiting for your urgent response.
Yours sincerely
Stella Cho.
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