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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:
- 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:
- "huge amount of money" (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)
- ",000,000" (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)
- "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)
- "abidjan" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: MARTHINI RUBBEN <marthini@btinternet.com>
Reply-To: marthinirubben@hotmail.fr
Date: Fri, 21 May 2010 23:59:53 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: From: Mrs. Marthini Rubben
From: Mrs. Marthini Rubben
C14 Avenue 16 Triechville
Abidjan Cote d'Ivoire
It's my pleasure to contact you for a business venture,there is this huge amount of money Eighteen million U.S Dollars($18,000,000.00) which my late Husband Mr.Peter Rubben kept for us in a security firm here before he was assassinated by unknown persons.
Now my son and I decided to invest these money in your country or anywhere safe enough outside this country for security purposes. The people that assassinated my late husband are now in plan to kill my only son James. We want you to help us to transfer this fund to your country for investment purposes on the followings below or in any investment of your choice. The people that assassinated my late husband are now in plan to kill my only son James.
1). Telecommunication
2). International School
3). Five star hotel
4). Real Estate
If you can be of an assistance to me I will be pleased to offer to you 10% of the total sum while 5% will be for miscellaneous expenses incurred during the transaction.
I await your soonest response.
Extend my warmest regards to your entire family.
Thanks and God bless you
Sincerely
Mrs. Marthini Rubben
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