|
|
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)
- "huge amount of money" (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)
- "million 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)
- 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.
- mr.chanray@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Postal Savings Bank of China <sunstan4real2003@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: mr.chanray@yahoo.com
Date: Fri, 19 Jun 2020 12:59:58 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: Dear Email Owner here is a Business proposal for you
Dear Friend,
My name is Mr. Chan Ray, a bank credit officer with Postal Savings Bank of China. I am contacting you to present a subtle offer which will need the help of a partner like you to complete successfully. I am in a difficult situation and I must immediately relocate certain sums of money.
I have a client Named Mr Alessandro Roberto he is a foreign investor from Italy and he also owns a company here in China. During the Corona Virus outbreak here in China it was confirmed that he tested positive and was flied back to his country in Italy for proper medication but however he lost his life living a huge amount of money in our bank worth the sum of $55.000.000.00 (fifty five Million United state Dollars) without a Next of kin to come and claim the fund.
Your role will be to:
[1]. Act as the Next of Kin.
[2]. Invest/Manage the funds.
[3]. Value of funds: (US) 55. Million.
Should you prefer I re-contact you with more express facts, kindly indicate your interest by emailing me via my private email address (mr.chanray@yahoo.com)
Also you must promise me that you will never betray me and my family after assisting us to claim this fund from the Bank.
Thank you and God bless you!
Mr. Chan Ray
Credit Officer
Postal Savings Bank of China
|
Anti-fraud resources:
