|
|
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:
- "million 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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs Toyin Allen" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <zenithbank279@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 31 Oct 2018 00:48:06 +0800
Subject: Re: Your assistance
Attention Sir
My name is Mrs Toyin Allen the present MD of Zenith Bank here in our country, i was formerly the remittance Director of Central Bank here and while i was in Central Bank i discovered a floating Money to the tune of $10 million (Ten Million Dollars) being over invoiced business done by my predecessors but could not cover it before they were discharged
This fund was meant for the payment of a contract done in warri Delta State in 2014 and the beneficiary have been paid complete his contract sum leaving the over invoiced fund, now that am in charge, i have had meeting with my deputy who have advised that it is our opportunity to make money then we have decided to look for a foreign partner who has an over sea account since we as civil servants by law are not legible to operate foreign accounts we need you to stand as the beneficiary of the fund and we will get all documents to cover the fund and issue a contract to that effect so that the money will be paid into your account as the contractor and we have decided to give you 30% of the sum and the rest will be shared between us 30% each and 10% for internal expenses
Please i want you to ask me any question you did not understand because i have to make it brief to save your time to read and assimilate You should also know that there is no atom of risk as we will cover every loop hole as insiders of the bank
Please do get back to me urgently for proper clarification and understanding
Regards
Mrs Toyin Allen
|
Anti-fraud resources:
