|
|
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.
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs. Richie Paul Omega" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <paulnicolasomega@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 22 Jan 2016 01:05:39 +0100
Subject: [BULK] Hello My Beloved Friend in the Lord
Hello My Beloved Friend in the Lord.
I came across your email address in my address book today as my spirit leads. I have been praying and fasting for direction to meet someone I can trust with my life endeavors for humanitarian purposes.
I’m Nathalie Cote, 69years old affected with throat cancer. My condition has deteriorated terribly, My surgical specialist informed me recently that I would not be able to survive my next surgery that its a 50/50 Operation.
That may just be the end of the world for me. Personally, I believe that is very obvious because the pains I feel daily is getting too much than usual unfortunately am a widow without kids.
Considering my condition now, I have been touched by the lord to donate what I inherited from my late husband to the less privileged through someone I can trust with my heart as my spirit leads me for good work to humanity.
Am writing you to know if you could be trusted to handle this humanitarian project for me. I am willing to donate a huge sum to the poor through you since I can not do that myself at this point.
Awaiting your response.
Warm Regards,
Mrs. Richie Paul Omega
|
Anti-fraud resources:
