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joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
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"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.
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Ebeh Everes" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <ebeheveres1@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 5 Dec 2018 22:54:58 -0800
Subject: Please Very Urgent Attention...
Hello,
My name is Ebeh. Everes from Benin republic. My purpose of writing you is about an unpaid contract project to a client (now deceased) who executed and completed a contract project of Seven million seven hundred thousand Euros E 7.7 for supply and installation of agricultural/industrial equipment's at my place of work where I am the head of the department but could not receive the fund before his untimely death which I have just discovered. I shall give you full details of this proposal and myself once I read from you. I shall also use my position in the office to update, insert your name and recommend you as the new beneficiary of the contract project fund so that this fund can be released to you for our own use and possibly engage into joint business venture with you. I shall as well discuss the sharing ration with you when you respond and indicate your interest to my proposal BUT please do not panic because I have all the necessary legal back-up for this transaction.
Please when replying, enclose your full names and direct telephone numbers for quicker and easier communication to enable us commence this project. I look forward to hearing from you.
Best regards,
Ebeh. Everes
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Anti-fraud resources: