|
|
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.
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- 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.
- diplomatagentarrive016@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: i am diplomat John Godwin <agostino.giannelli@alice.it>
Reply-To: diplomatagentarrive016@gmail.com
Date: Thu, 11 Feb 2016 00:28:42 +0100 (CET)
Subject: i am diplomat John Godwin
Hello.
i am diplomat i just arrived at your International Airport with your package
worth of $(2.5M) please Contact me back with your full information for the
final delivery or you can come and meet me
Here is my contact
Name: John godwin.
diplomatagentarrive016@gmail.com
Tel:+13152031876
Meanwhile i have informed my partner in Benin Republic to call you now so
please wait for his phone call or you can call me
Best Regards,
John
|
Anti-fraud resources:
