|
|
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:
- 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:
- "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "liberia" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "remain blessed" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- This email message is a "dying widow" scam.
- 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.
- sediacon7k@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Penny Wilson" <info@office.com>
Reply-To: sediacon8k@gmail.com
Date: Thu, 19 Nov 2015 10:40:07 -0000
Subject: From:Mrs. Penny Wilson.!
From:Mrs. Penny Wilson.
Good Day,
I am the above named person from Liberia. I am married to Mr. Gary Wilson
who worked with embassy here in NIGERIA for nine years before he died in
the year 2010.We were married for eleven years without a child. He died
after a brief illness that lasted for only four days. Before his death we
were both born again christian.Since his death I decided not to remarry or
get a child outside my matrimonial home which the Bible is against. When
my late husband was alive he deposited the sum of $6.8Million (Six Million
Eight hundred thousand U.S. Dollars) with NIGERIA bank.
Presently, this money is still with the NIGERIA bank. Recently, my Doctor
told me that I would not last for the next Eight months due to cancer
problem. The one that disturbs me most is my stroke sickness. Having known
my condition I decided to keep this fund here in Nigeria.I want an
organization or an individual that will use this fund for orphanages,
widows, propagating the word of God and to endeavor that the house of God
is maintained.The Bible made us to understand that Blessed is the hand
that give.I took this decision because I don't have any child that will
inherit this money and my husband relatives are not Christians and I don't
want my husbands efforts to be used by unbelievers. I don't want a
situation where this money will be used in an ungodly way.This is why I am
taking this decision. I am not afraid of death hence I know where I am
going. I know that I am going to be in the bosom of the Lord.Exodus 14 VS
14 says that the lord will fight my case and I shall hold my peace.
I don't need any telephone communication in this regard because of my
health hence the presence of my husbands relatives around me always. I
don't want them to know about this development. With God all things are
possible. As soon as I receive your reply I shall inform the bank here in
NIGERIA. that you are the beneficiary of the said fund you will need to
contact them for the releasing of the fund to you . I will also issue you
an authority letter that will prove you the present beneficiary of this
fund.I want you and the organization to always pray for me because the
lord is my shepherd. My happiness is that I lived a life of a worthy
Christian.
Whoever that wants to serve the Lord must serve him in spirit and
truth.Please always be prayerful all through your life.Any delay in your
reply will give me room in sourcing another person for this same purpose.
Please assure me that you will act accordingly as I stated herein. If you
are interested I will like you to contact my lawyer Harrison Bless. via
his email address ( sediacon7k@gmail.com ) Hoping to receive your reply
and Remain blessed in the Lord.please send me your telephone/fax number
too so that my Lawyer Harrison Bless can contact you thank you
Yours in Christ,
Mrs. Penny Wilson.
|
Anti-fraud resources:
