|
|
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:
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
- 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.
- je6712@aol.com (AOL; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: Rosalie Charles <doreenhassan23@gmail.com>
Reply-To: infor.rbc92@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 3 Apr 2023 17:49:32 -0400
Subject: COMPENSATION FOR YOUR HELP
*My Dearest FriendI am very happy to inform you about my success in getting
that fund transferred through the help of a partner from India. However, I
will not forget all your previous effort in trying to assist me in
transferring the fund which later failed both of us before I finally found
this new partner from India who assisted me and the fund was transferred
successfully.Meanwhile, I kept a Cashier's Cheque of One Million Eight
Hundred Thousand USD ($1,800,000.00) as your compensation with my
secretary before I left for India. So contact my secretary with your full
name, Current address and your mobile phone number via the information
below: NAME: Mr. James FrederickEMAIL: je6712@aol.com
<je6712@aol.com>Mobile phone: +1 (202) 602-6633 ( Whatsapp only)Ask him to
send you the Cashier's Cheque that I instructed him to. I am very busy here
in India because of the investment projects which my new partner and I are
having at the moment. Regards,Mrs. Rosalie Charles.*
|
Anti-fraud resources:
