|
|
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:
- 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:
- "search for a reliable person" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "might come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
- 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.
- jameswal24@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Dr James Walter <umarualen@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: jameswal24@yahoo.com
Date: Wed, 15 Jun 2011 05:01:15 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: From Dr James Walter Please Get Back To Me
Dr. James WALTER
P.o.Box Mp1627
Mamprobi-Accra
Ghana- West African
E-MAIL jameswal24@yahoo.com
Dear, sir
I know this letter might come to you as a surprise as we have not known or meet each other before. My name is Dr.James Walter a pathologist and biochemist doctor of Accra general teaching hospital named (Korle bu teaching hospital great Accra region.) I got your contact address and information on my research for a reliable person who will not sit on top of the money after the end of this transaction.
I have a cancer patient in our custody with above mentioned hospital here in Accra-Ghana. She was married to late Mr. Phillip Johnson who was the owner and managing director of Ukatex Ent.Ltd dealers in cocoa and Timber market here in Ghana. This hospital conducted some test about my patients disease and it have been clearly made known to her and this hospital that she is not going to last after two months from now. For that few months ago my patient invited me over to have a talk with her as I have been her custodian since her stay with this hospital all this while till now.
She disclosed to me that before the death of her husband that her husband deposited sum huge amount of cash $8.6mUSD with one of the well known bank here in Accra-Ghana for the purchase of Timber machines before he was killed by his business partner last year. I wrote a letter to the bank as Mrs. Linda Wallfan(My patient) directed me to on her behalf three weeks ago for the claim. Which the bank replied to us to provide the next of kin to this fund with them. It was stated in the documents that the next of kin to this money is a foreign business partner to late Mr. Johnson.
Why I am contacting you for your assistance is to stand as the next of kin to this fund and claim it asking the bank to transfer the fund to your account in your country or any country of your choice where the money will be safe for us and for investment. You don't have to worry for anything as to any question that might come up from the bank for I have all the details they might need from you to proof as the next of kin to this fund. I also save a little money in-case if anything come up with such happened during the process.
I am offering you 40% of the total fund for your assistance 10% for any expenses that might come up during the transfer like telephone calls, fax and so on.50% will be for me and my family. I will like to hear from you with your great interest as soon as you get this message. Please you can also give me your telephone number for more oral details. I will be happy if you will reply to my letter than keeping me waiting. Thank you and God bless you as I hear from you soonest.
Yours faithfully,
Dr James Walter
|
Anti-fraud resources:
