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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:
- "million united states dollars" (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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- 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.
- info.galawilliams007@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Gala Williams" <infor.galawilliams2007111@googlemail.com>
Reply-To: info.galawilliams007@gmail.com
Date: Wed, 20 Aug 2008 15:47:03 -0700
Subject: YOUR FUND HAS BEEN APPROVED.
From:Gala Williams
MACHESTER MX35 V55
RD UK.
E-mail address:(info.galawilliams007@gmail.com)
Dear Fund Owner,
This is to inform you that your funds of Twenty Eight Million United
States Dollars (US$28,000,000.00) have been approved for immediate
delivery or transfer to you. For the purpose of clarification, you are
advised to reconfirm your:
Full Names
Direct Telephone Numbers
Physical Address with Zip Code so that there will be no error during
the delivery or transferring of the funds to you in your country of
residence.
Your quick response will be highly appreciated. Please kindly send
your reconfirmed informations to(info.galawilliams007@gmail.com)
Gala Williams.
Operational Manager,
ST:LOUIS SECURITY AND DELIVERING COMPANY.
United Kingdom.
Anti-fraud resources: