|
|
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:
- "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- ",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)
- "high court" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
Fraud email example:
From: "Attorney Michael Stewart" <bshopcommunications@rajkumarindustries.com>
Reply-To: michaeltewart002@gmail.com
Date: Tue, 24 Mar 2015 12:04:51 -0700
Subject: With sincere mind I...
Dear Sir/Madam, I am Michael Stewart (Attorney) and due to your non respons=
e to our earlier mail on behalf of the Trustees and Executors to the Will o=
f our late client, we wish to notify you that you are listed as the benefic=
iary to the total sum of =A314,500,000.00 (Fourteen Million Five Hundred Th=
ousand British Pounds) in the Codicil to the last Will and testament of the=
deceased. We therefore reckoned that you can receive these funds as you ar=
e qualified by your name identity and Legal documents will be processed on =
your acceptance. Kindly forward your address to enable us file necessary do=
cuments at the High Court (Probate Division) for the release of these sum t=
o you. We look forward to hearing from you soon. Sincerely Attorney Michael=
Stewart
---
This email is free from viruses and malware because avast! Antivirus protec=
tion is active.
http://www.avast.com
|
Anti-fraud resources:
