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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)
- "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- ",500,000" (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)
- "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)
- "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.
- 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.
- lawrancemassan@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Lowrance massan <lowrancemassan@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: Lowrance massan <lawrancemassan@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 11 Feb 2015 10:42:58 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: Attention please
Dear Friend,
I have a genuine business transaction which i we like you to benefit from,is about a Contract fund that belongs to my late client,which involves ($ 8,500,000.00 United States);I am contacting for your assistance to stand as next of kin to my late client.
He died with his family and nobody is here to claim this money.So I will like you to assist me in retrieving this fund from the Bank with legitimate processes.as a lawyer I know what to do so that this money can be approved and paid into your choice account.
please if you need details information Kindly write me with your direct email to this Emil:(lawrancemassan@gmail.com)Please treat this business with utmost confidentiality and send me the following information to me to enable me give you more details regarding the claim.
(1) Your Full names:
(2) Your Age:
(3) Your Private E-mail:
(4) Private phone number
(5) A copy of your identification
I look forward hearing from you as soon as possible If you are willing to proceed with me, contact me through my private email (lawrancemassan@gmail.com) for more information.
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