|
|
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 friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "hundred thousand united state 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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "remain blessed" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- This email message is a "dying widow" scam.
- 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.
- marildabernhard34@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Marilda Bernhard" <kreves@mr.vnn.vn>
Reply-To: marildabernhard34@hotmail.com
Date: Sat, 11 May 2019 02:58:32 +0700 (+07)
Subject: Ref
Dear Friend,
My name is Mrs. Marilda Bernhard from Germany. I was brought up from a
motherless babyâs home in my country and was married to my late husband
Dr. Bruno Bernhard who worked with our Embassy here in South Africa for a
period of 8years before he died. We were married for 25 years without a
child before he died in a fatal car accident. Since his death I decided
not to remarry due to my religious belief .I am 59 years old, and am
suffering from a long time cancer of the breast which also affected my
brain from all indication my conditions is really deteriorating and it is
quite obvious that, according to my doctors they have advised me that i
may not live for the next two months this is because the cancer stage has
gotten to a very bad stage
When my late husband was alive he deposited the sum of US$5.6M (Five
Million Six Hundred Thousand United State Dollars) with a Bank here in
South Africa. Presently this money is still in the custody of the Bank in
South Africa. Recently, my Doctor told me that I would not last for the
next two months due to cancer illness.
Having known my condition I decided to donate this money to Churches,
organizations or good person that will utilize this money the way I am
going to instruct herein.
Please send your response to my personal email
(marildabernhard34@hotmail.com). I will be in expectant of your favorable
response on this regard.
Thanks and Remain blessed
Yours Sister in The Lord,
Mrs. Marilda Bernhard
|
Anti-fraud resources: