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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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)
- "chief auditor" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
Fraud email example:
From: "Dr.Edward Williams" <nakott3@yahoo.co.jp>
Reply-To: "Dr.Edward Williams" <dr.edward_williams@intrage.it>
Date: Thu, 12 Dec 2013 00:28:37 +0900 (JST)
Subject: From: Dr. Edward Williams!!!
From: Dr. Edward Williams!!!
Dear Friend,
An
Indian citizen made a fixed deposit of USD 5,600,000.00 (Five Million
Six Hundred Thousand Dollars) in my bank branch where i am the chief
auditor and he left behind no next of kin. Late Vinodchand Gulabchand
who lived and work in Ivory Coast as a stock and Real estate business
man before his death. I am writing to seek for your assistance to
present you as the beneficiary/next of kin to the late customer so that
you will claim the funds he left behind. After the successful transfer
of this fund, I shall come over to your country for the sharing of the
percentage which will be 50% for me and 50% for you.
I have all the copies of the necessary documents that will back up to
claim this fund without any confrontation. All I require now is your
honest co-operation to enable us achieving this through and we have to
do this within shortest time possible. I guarantee that this will be
executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any
breach of the law. Please indicate your positive interest immediately
for us to proceed, if not please ignore. I shall be waiting for your
responds and assurance in this regards.
Please do reply to me on my private email address: dr.edward_williams@intrage.it or Tel: +22546882700 for some oral discussions.
Thanks for Your Cooperation.
Sincerely,
Dr.Edward Williams
Cell: +22546882700
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