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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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:
- "dear beneficiary," (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- 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.
- husseindangote@yahoo.com.hk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Alhaji Hussein Dangote" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <dangotehussein@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Sun, 28 Mar 2010 20:20:12 +0100
Subject: LET ME ASSIST YOU.
Dear beneficiary,
I am Alhaji Hussein Dangote a younger brother of Alhaji Aliko Dangote a business magnate from the Northern Part of Nigeria. I was shocked to discover through some friends about your plight in the hands of some corrupt and evil officials/impostors regarding your funds in Nigeria which you have spent so much but have not received even a dime to this date. You have been deceived for so long. Stop responding to criminals and impersonators.
As a Businessman, I cannot support such because if such calamity happens to us overseas or in other parts of Africa where we have investments; I cannot stand it and might even die. So I cannot and will not support any evil to be done to a foreigner here. It is a pity that I got to know about your predicament after you have suffered a lot but I believe it is not too late since I can still ensure that you are paid.
Though the Dangote business empire have blossom over the years and we are now one of the biggest firms in Africa, we started our business with a paltry sum from our Mum and I know what it means for someone to lose his money, time and resources like you. In this regard, I want you to contact me directly as soon as you get this message so that I will assist you to get paid. Email me on husseindangote@yahoo.com.hk or call me on my direct Telephone No: +234-705517-9999 for more discussions.
My decision to contact you is base purely on humanitarian grounds. Note: This is not related nor have anything to do with our private business. It is personal to me. I want to be a Good Samaritan in your life because many foreigners have been good to me outside Nigerians and I will not allow you to be tormented forever without getting your funds. Meanwhile I invite you to visit our corporate website: http://www.dangote-group.com to find out more about our business empire and our areas of interests.
Respond to me so that I can support your course. I will ensure that you are paid since I know the right and authentic people to talk to and will also use my closeness to Government to help you out. I am sorry for all you have passed though but please do remember that there are some decent and noble Nigerians and I am proud to be one of them. You will definitely get paid your overdue funds including your Accrued Interest of 2.8 Million USD.
With best wishes,
Alhaji Hussein Dangote
Email: husseindangote@yahoo.com.hk
Telephone No: +234-705517-9999
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