|
|
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: "Miss Mary Simon" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <marysimon325@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 10 Dec 2020 02:12:47 -0800
Subject: ...can I confide on you?
Dear Friend,
It is with a deep sense of heart felt that I decided to write you this message.
My name is Mary Simon from Ivory Coast an orphan; presently I am 21 years old
I came across your information in my course of my research for a reliable and honest person in your country that could
assist me in retrieving my late father's fund US$7.5 M been deposited in a bank which I am the next of kin; I want the fund
to be invested in viable business in your country as well as relocating me for a brighter future in furtherance of my
education
I hope i can confide in your to actualize my dreams;
On the receipt of your response by sending me your personal data ; your Age ,nature of job/position ; your phone number and
address; I will be very much oblige to disclose further details of the transaction and my personal data
If you can be of an assistance to me, I will be pleased to offer to you 30% of the total fund; 5% for miscellaneous expenses
while 65% for investment purposes
I will be humbly waiting
My Regards.
Miss Mary Simon.
|
Anti-fraud resources:
