|
|
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:
- "million dollars" (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)
- "god fearing " (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: desmond ikoyi <deskoyi@gmail.com>
Reply-To: rayburtoninvest@gmail.com
Date: Wed, 25 Mar 2015 05:23:35 -0800
Subject: from caroline timta through DESMOND
Good day to you.
My name is Caroline Timta daughter of late king and Emir of Gwoza
Borno state of Nigeria, Alhaji Idrissa Timta. My late father was
killed by the Boko Haram Islamic ISIS affiliated terrorists last year.
See details here.
http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/05/boko-haram-attacks-three-emirs-kills-one/
And also here. http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gwoza
My situation was made worse as I converted to Christianity.
I am currently in an asylum camp in the United Kingdom where I am
seeking political asylum.My late father had 5 wives and left
millions of dollars cash in various finance and vault companies in
Europe , Africa and the Dominican Republic. He bequeathed a few
million dollars to me and my mother. My mother was martyred early
this year.
I am the only child from my mother , a young woman and a Christian
convert in a Muslim family. They have attempted to kill me
unsuccessfully several times hence my seeking political asylum in the
United Kingdom.
I am looking for someone with international experience to help me to
claim and invest these funds. A God fearing person. An honest person.
You will get 30 % of the funds and 70 % will be invested on my behalf.
All I need from you is a God spirited assurance that the funds when
received by you will be used for the said purpose, Nowadays there are
so much scams going on in the internet and it is difficult to trust.
But I believe God has a good plan for me. I may not respond to your
mail always as my movement is temporarily restricted in the asylum
camp here in the UK while my asylum application is being
considered.send your response to me through my private immigration
friend who is helping me.He is the owner of this mail.I got his
permission to receive letters through him.
Yours in christ
Caroline Timta
|
Anti-fraud resources:
