|
|
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:
- "await your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs.Rebecca Lemonde" <didimimuro@yahoo.co.jp>
Reply-To: "Mrs.Rebecca Lemonde" <rebeccalemonde_0320@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Sat, 21 Mar 2015 22:58:02 +0900 (JST)
Subject: My Donation for Charity.
Hello Dear
I am writing you this piece of word with tears from the depth of my heart, i have decided to write you this piece of email because of the undeterminable situation i am into right now, my name is Mrs.Rebecca Lemonde widow; I found your email address through my husband internet dater.
I am presently admitted at the hospital suffering from a cancerous ailment and it has been confirmed that i have a short and limited time to live.i have some funds at Bank inherited from my late husband account here in Cote d'ivoire. Due to my health condition i want you to use the fund for the aid of the less privileged, orphans and motherless babies and %10 will go to you as compensation.
I await your urgent response.
|
Anti-fraud resources:
