|
|
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.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "hundred thousand united state dollars" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs. Jose Cyprian" <Reini.Runkel@t-online.de>
Reply-To: "mrsjosecyprian@yahoo.com" <mrsjosecyprian@yahoo.com>
Date: Fri, 30 Dec 2016 14:59:08 +0100 (MET)
Subject: Greetings,
Greetings,
I am Mrs. Jose Cyprian a widow , my late husband was the deputy director of
Coco farm agriculture and he was killed by the rebels during the
presidential election.
I am writing you this message on the hospital were I am undergoing medical
treatment I want you to stand as my beneficiary to receive this sum of my
$3.5 Million USA (Three million five hundred thousand united state dollars
only) I inherited this funds from my late husband, I want to donate this
fund in your country for charity project
Reply me as soon as possible if you can help me to invest this fund under
charitable service in your country. Kindly send me your full Name and your
home address and your direct telephone number. So that I can present you to
the bank where my late husband deposited this fund.
Expecting to your urgent message
Sincerely,
Mrs. Jose Cyprian

|
Anti-fraud resources:
