|
|
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:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "greater london" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "hundred thousand great british pounds" (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)
- "god fearing " (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs. Mary Russell" <wandsmith007@gmail.com>
Date:
Subject:
Dear Trusted one
I believe my mail will be coming to you as a surprise since we have not met
before and you would also think how I know you. I found your profile from
the guestbook resumes directories and I decided to contact you.
I am Mrs. Mary Russell, a native of London, an aging widow of 78 years old,
i am suffering from a long time cancer illness and i have some funds which
i inherited from my late husband the sum of Ten Million Four Hundred
Thousand Great British Pounds and I needed a very honest and God fearing
person that will use this fund for charity purposes sincerely because of my
present health condition i am doing this unconditionally knowing that my
days to live are numbered and through this Privilege I will be immortalize
when I am gone.
Kindly get back to me immediately if you have made up your mind with the
details below to enable me to prepare a letter of Authorization in your
name so that the Barclays Bank London where my fund was deposited will
proceed for the release of my last wish to you.
(1) Your full names: ==(2) Personal or official contact address: ===(3) Home or Office phone#:=Îll phone#:==úx#:==(4) Your Age: ==(5)Occupation: ==(6)Marital status: ==(7) Sex: ==
Awaiting your kind response while craving your appreciation of my
predicament.
Yours Faithfully,
Mrs. Mary Russell
redacted@domain.name
Cancer Center: The Royal Marsden Hospital NHS
Fulham Road,Greater London, SW3 6JJ.
|
Anti-fraud resources: