|
|
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:
- "utmost confidentiality" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Feria de Ciencias - Observatorio Pierre Auger <feria@auger.org.ar>
Reply-To: mchungchih@gmail.com
Date: Sun, 10 Sep 2017 00:56:24 +0000
Subject: RE: Acknowledgement
--
Good day to you, Pardon my intrusion into your privacy for sending you
this proposal unsolicited. I also apologize for using this internet
medium knowing the unsafe nature of the internet to contact you for
such a magnitude business proposal. Please note that this is a
personal email directed to you because of my present predicament, I
request you treat with utmost confidentiality.
I got your contact from a Business Directory in an agent's office and
I decided to contact you directly strictly for the sake of business.
Having gone through your profile , I believe that you are in the best
position to manage this business investment which I would appreciate
having with you.
For sake of clarity, my full name is Mr. Hsieh Chung Chih, I am from
Taiwan ROC I was once a chief executive with one of the top banks in
Taiwan. It might interest you to know that I am presently in asylum
because of political oppression of false allegation leveled against me
by politicians in my country. My Lawyer is doing the work to
prove them wrong. I want to go neutral and invest the sum of $18M in
your Country through a neutral individual like you and I will move
this fund to you if you agree to work with me in honesty and truth.
All I want you to do when the funds are transferred to you is to
establish a Lucrative Business Venture that will generate good returns
to investment. Please note that the investment must be under your
supervision and management.
If you're willing to assist with your investment ideas let me know so
that we can proceed towards the success of this great business
venture. Alternatively, you can come up with your own investment
plans. Full details will be made available of confirmation of your
interest.
Thank you once again for your interest.
Best Regards
Mr.Hsieh Chung Chih.
|
Anti-fraud resources:
