|
|
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:
- "the consignment" (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)
- "consignment " (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)
- "urgent assistance" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: shcherovuam66@gmail.com
Reply-To: shcherbakovam66@gmail.com
Date: Sat, 15 Apr 2023 14:10:21 +0100
Subject: Ms Olena Shcherbakova.
Dear.
I am Ms Olena Shcherbakova, a board member of National Bank of Ukraine.
This is to appeal for your urgent assistance and support because I Have the sum of only $10M US loaded inside a consignment which was deposited with a security firm in POLAND.
This was done in anticipation of the war which later came to reality , I was able to flee the country and I am now hiding in ROMANIA and all I have left destroyed in UKRAINE.
I am sincerely appealing to you to help receive the consignment loaded with $10m into your country so that I can be able to depart here to meet you and start a new life because the Ukraine as a country is totally destroyed by Russia and it will take time to rebuild so its better I start a new life earlier now because I have lost everything I labored for through Russian bombs.
If you are ready to help me respond so that we can process the delivery to your destination for investment and establishment.
Thank you
Ms Olena Shcherbakova.
|
Anti-fraud resources:
