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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:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "hundred thousand united states dollars" (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)
- "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
- "balanpa2020@outlook.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr.Paul .B.Samson" <replymail0011@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 19 Mar 2023 17:05:11 +0100
Subject: How Are You?
--
Dear Friend,
I am Mr.Paul .B.Samson a personal lawyer to Eng .Richard Spindler from your
country who died in Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 crashed on 8 March 2014 on
his business trip to Beijing
I am contacting you to assist me in retrieving the Sum of (USD7.2M) Seven
Million Two Hundred Thousand United States Dollars which my client
deposited in a Bank before his sudden death before being confiscated by the
Bank due to there was no name attached as next of kin.
Please, contact immediately I will also appreciate if you can let me have
the following details
1. Your Name
2. Address
3. Your cell Phone Number.
4. Occupation
5. A copy of your ID
This transaction is 100% risk free.
Sincerely,
Mr.Paul .B.Samson
Please Kindly Direct your respond to my personal email (
balanpa2020@outlook.com)
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Anti-fraud resources: