|
|
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:
- "i will like you to " (a common phrase found 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: "Mrs.Savasdiphol" <msstephanibube@centrum.cz> (may be fake)
Reply-To: mrssavasdipholkung@hotmail.com
Date: Sat, 7 May 2011 18:00:07 +0200 (CEST)
Subject: Hello Dearest Friend,
Hello Dearest Friend,
I am Mrs. Savasdiphol Neeuy Kung from Thailand.After going through your
profile I found you trust worthy and capable enough to entrust this
assignment into your care and it has been my wish to live and invest in
any of the Europian countries.I will be most glad if you will handle this
project with wll your mind.I am assuring you that you will never regreat
of doing this business with me.
I came down to Africa specifically to the republic of Ghana for a business
trip which i intended to complete with you.
I have 760killos of Gold which i deposited in one of the security firm
company here in Ghana and that is exactly why i came to process the
shipment and to connect with the buyers of the gold in your country. I am
contacting you now because i will not like to go back to my country
because of some private reasons which i will like to discuss with you upon
my arrival in your country.
I will like you to come down here by yourself and finalize the transaction
with the shipping company and get the box of Gold delivered to your
country while we go together back to your country . However, i will like
you to get back to me if you can be of this noble assistance so that i
will direct you on how to finish the transaction. I will be expecting to
read from you soonest.
Yours Faithfully,
Mrs.Savasdiphol.
|
Anti-fraud resources:
