|
|
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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "transfer into your account" (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)
- "million pounds" (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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Haitiz Ralph" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <haitiralph@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 21 Jun 2017 02:14:07 -0700
Subject: Dear Friend
Dear friend
I am contacting you on a business deal of GBP 55.5 Million Pounds, ready for transfer into your account
The depositor of the said fund died with his entire family during the Iraq war in 2006, unfortunately leaving nobody for the claim. if we make this claim, we will share it 60%/40%.
please note that you will manage/control and invest my 60% share while i keep a low profile as a career banker, my lawyer will prepare an MOU.
100% risk free and it will be legally backed up with government approved, my lawyer will process all the documents.
If you are interested reply for more details.
Haitiz Ralph
Foreign chief executive marketing officer
Standard Chartered PLC.
cell 447430 132 411
|
Anti-fraud resources: