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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:
- 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:
- ",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)
- 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.
- mrmartingary620@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. Martin Gary. X" <xx@yy>
Reply-To: mrmartingary620@gmail.com
Date: Wed, 11 Nov 2020 15:38:42 -0800
Subject: INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIP
Attn: Manager/Director/ C.E.O
INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIP
I am representing an investor with a mandate to help find a dependable int=
ernational trustee to channel the investment fund of USD $15,000,000 into a=
10 years=2019 profitable project that will target a reasonable return on i=
nvestment (ROI) With a strong plan to compensate for your assistance. =
This plan will also give you full authority to handle the investment and 1=
0% from the total investment amount has been allocated for compensation. Pl=
ease if you are interested to proceed let us know the area of investment yo=
u would recommend. =
Contact me on via email (mrmartingary620@gmail.com)
Thank you as I await your swift action. =
Mr. Martin Gary=20
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Anti-fraud resources: