|
|
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:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- "robert mugabe" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "god-fearing " (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- "mrs.roselymalusi@outlook.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- "mrs.roselymalusi@outlook.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: roselyn malusi <roselynmalusi104@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 25 May 2015 08:08:13 +0200
Subject: Letter
From: Mrs. Roselyn Malusi.
Johannesburg, South Africa
Telephone: + 27-83-573-5287.
Email:*mrs.roselymalusi@outlook.com <mrs.roselymalusi@outlook.com>*
Dear Sir/Madam
I am aware that you will be surprised at the receipt of this inquiry from
me. First of all, I am Mrs. Roselyn Malusi, the wife of Mr. Johnson Malusi
a citizen of Zimbabwe. I got your information during my search for a
reliable and God-fearing person that can assist my family carry out
investment undertakings to the volume of (USD25.5M) in your county.
The above amount represents proceeds from sale of my late husband’s landed
property in Zimbabwe. My late husband was a famous farmer in Zimbabwe and
was assassinated by forces loyal to President Robert Mugabe following the
terrible crisis that resulted from his Land Use Reform Policy, which has
left thousands of Zimbabweans (including white farmers) dead or displaced.
My late husband sensed these terrible developments and quickly sold his
farm lands including other landed properties of the family and secretly
sent and lodged the proceeds (USD$25.5M) with a private security company in
South Africa, a neighboring country.
Further details will be given to you by our financial adviser immediately
you indicate interest. You may contact me on my private e-mail address or
telephone stated above.
May God bless you as you accept to assist my family with this request?
Best Regards,
Mrs. Roselyn Malusi.
For the family.
|
Anti-fraud resources:
