|
|
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)
- "confidential business" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "former president of liberia" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "liberia" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- 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.
- john.taylor6780@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "John Taylor" <bijoy@bestecbd.com>
Reply-To: john.taylor6780@yahoo.com
Date: Thu, 12 Oct 2017 09:59:58 -0700
Subject: Business Proposal
Dear Sir/Madam,
My name is Mr. John Taylor, half brother to former president of Liberia wh=
o is currently in jail in Hague. Good recommendation of yours was made to m=
e and I was assured you can handle confidential business.My brother made de=
posit of some money in financial institution in London name with held for n=
ow based on security reasons. The attached is the video of the cargo contai=
ning the money before it was deposited. (check and view video of the box) =
I need individual or company to move the money for investment. I can not d=
o it on my own because I am on political asylum here. Confidentiality of t=
his transaction must be kept if we are to work together. We must deal with =
each other with trust and oneness. On your acceptance to work with me, I w=
ill give you further information about the transaction, like wise the amou=
nt involved. Hoping to hear from you so that we can move forward.
=
My warm regards, Mr. John Taylor
Email: john.taylor6780@yahoo.com
|
Anti-fraud resources:
