|
|
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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: John Kenneth <jennetbb12@gmail.com>
Reply-To: john.kain.90uba@gmail.com
Date: Fri, 26 Jun 2020 08:31:25 -0700
Subject: Dear Friend,
Dear Friend,
My name is Mr. John Kenneth am the branch manager of a bank in Accra Ghana,
it is utterly confidential and genuine by virtue of its nature. I write to
solicit your assistance in a transfer deal involving US$ 15, Million. This
fund was deposited by one of our clients Mallam Abba Kyari a Nationality
of Nigeria who died of CoronaVirus on April 17, 2020 in his country but
has no next of kin who will stand for the claims of the fund which he
deposited with our bank.
the reason why i contacted you now is because i have all the details
concerning this fund i want us to claim this fund so that we can use the
fund. i want to present you as forign business partner to the depositor so
that the fund can be released and transfer to your Account in your country.
I have already submitted an approved end of the year report for the year
2019 to my head office here in Accra-Ghana and they will never know of this
fund. I have since then placed this amount on a Non-Investment Account
without a beneficiary. Upon your response I will configure your name on our
database as foriegn business partner to Mallam Abba Kyari I will then
guide you on how to apply to my head office for the Account Closure/
bank-to-bank remittance of the funds to your designated bank account. If
you concur with this proposal.
I intend for you to retain 40% of the funds while 60% shall be for me.
Kindly forward your response to me immediately including your private cell
phone number for easy communication.
With Regards,
Mr. John Kenneth.
|
Anti-fraud resources:
