|
|
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)
- ",000,000" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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.
- 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.
- mrsruthsmith30@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Ruth Smith" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mrsruthsmith30@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 23 Jul 2019 11:26:21 +0200
Subject: MRS SIDEK ZAITON have been called to glory
Dear Friend,
May the blessing of the Good Lord be with you and your family.
I was busy for the past weeks trying to figure out a possible means 0f reaching you, not until when I got access to MRS SIDEK ZAITON to some file some few days back. I hope you know that MRS SIDEK ZAITON have been called to glory. The Charity Project of US$5,000,000.00 million (Five Million U.S.Dollars) donation which she was having with her correspondent bank will be authorized to be transferred to you as next of kin as soon as you respond to this message.
The fund will be transferred to your bank account without much suffering on you since it was not possible through my Office some time ago to relocate the fund into a private account. The fund is presently with a bank which will not cause any harm to facilitate to you without restrictions and policies.
Please reply so I can link you up with the Bank and the account officer in charge with modalities.
Kindly respond through my private email address mrsruthsmith30@gmail.com
Will await your prompt response.
Regards
MRS. RUTH SMITH
LEGAL REPRESENTATIVE
|
Anti-fraud resources: