|
|
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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "you will take 25%" (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.
Fraud email example:
From: Fatima Beeler <general.infofederalreserve@gmail.com>
Date:
Subject:
Hello Good Day
My name is Mrs. Fatima Muhammad. I am 56 years old woman and I am
legally married to late Mr. Zoran Muhammad. Me and my late husband
where both citizens of Serbia in Europe and we lived here in West
Africa for the past 17 years ago. My late husband worked with an oil
drilling company as an expatriate for many years before he died.I and
my late husband did not have a single biological child of our own.
Presently I have a serious breast cancer sickness and my private
doctor just informed me that my breast cancer sickness has gotten
worst and they are going to carry out a serious cancer surgery on my
heart by next weekend which I might not survive. When my late husband
was alive, he deposited the sum of Three million five hundred thousand
dollars (US3.500.000.00 dollars) in a bank and he signed an agreement
with the bank that the funds will be used for charity purposes across
the World.
Dear friend I contacted you today after my prayers and my spirit
directed me to contact you to do this charity work for humanity, If I
die during my surgery, the bank will sit on the funds and embezzle the
funds because I have no child to claim the money. I want you to help
me RECEIVE the funds to your personally or company business bank
account and after that; you will you will take 25% of the total amount
for your compensation and use the remaining 75% to do the charity work
in your country. please kindly reply back to me for more details about
the bank where the money is deposited.
Best Regards
Mrs. Fatima Muhammad
|
Anti-fraud resources:
