|
|
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:
- "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- 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.
- torra.david@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Urgent Investment Proposal" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <torra.david@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Thu, 24 Feb 2011 08:10:36 +0100
Subject: Urgent Investment Proposal
Re: Strictly Confidential & Urgent Business Proposal
Dear Sir/Madam,
Kindly confirm if you still requires fund for your business. I have a Dubai based industrialist who is currently looking for an avenue to make a discrete investment of US$50Million before making systematic liquidation of company.
More so, his company is currently running on over a billion dollar deficit and this has prompted his need to put some funds aside before submitting paperwork’s for bankruptcy and liquidation.
He is willing to invest the fund in exchange for 7% yearly interest for a maximum duration of 5 years without collateral. However, he will require a corporate equity or original documentation of the proposed investment to safeguard his fund in case of default.
Finally, if interested kindly send me an email or call me for terms and possible meeting with my client.
Best Regards,
DAVID TORRA
Email:torra.david@yahoo.co.uk
Phone: + 34 672-915-531
|
Anti-fraud resources:
