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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.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- This email message is a company representative scam. This type of job offer scam involves the cashing of fake checks and money orders. It could expose you to losses of tens of thousands of dollars as well as to the risk of criminal prosecution and (in some cases) imprisonment.
- 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.
- freemanjohn0@sify.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
- freemanjohnz@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "import export" <importexport05@msn.com>
Date: Fri, 27 Jan 2006 21:54:26 +0000
Subject: COMPANY REPRESENTATIVE NEEDED
DEAR SIR/MADAM
I AM MR CHEUNG PUI, WE ARE GROUP OF BUSINESS MEN WHO
DEAL ON IMPORT AND EXPORT RAW MATERIALS INTO EUROPE,
AMERICA AND CANADA, WE ARE SEARCHING FOR
REPRESENTATIVE WHO CAN HELP US ESTABLISH A MEDIUM OF
GETTING TO OUR COSTUMERS IN EUROPE AMERICA AND
CANADA AS WELL AS THEM MAKING PAYMENT THROUGH YOU TO
US.
WE WILL BE VERY GLAD IF YOU CAN BE OUR
REPRESENTATIVE IN YOUR COUNTRY AND EARN 5% OF EVERY
PAYMENT MADE THROUGH YOU TO US. FOR MORE INFORMATION
CONTACT OUR VICE PRESIDENT THROUGH E-MAIL AND YOU WOULD
GET FURTHER DIRECTIVES.
NAME : MR JOHN FREEMAN
EMAIL : freemanjohn0@sify.com or freemanjohnz@yahoo.co.uk
THANKS,
MR CHUENG PUI
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Anti-fraud resources: