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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 friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "i have a new email address!" (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
- "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
- This email message is a "New Partner from Paraguay" scam.
- This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- +447031844253 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
- 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.
- bello.amani14@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
- pastor_sunday_1@yahoo.co.jp
Fraud email example:
From: Bello Amani <bello.amani14@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: amani_bello2@yahoo.co.jp
Date: Tue, 20 Jan 2009 04:10:54 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Compensation!!!.
I have a new email address!You can now email me at: bello.amani14@yahoo.com
- Dear Friend,I'm happy to inform you about my success in getting those funds transfered under the cooperation of a new partner from Uk. Presently i'm in Uk for investment projects with my own share of the total sum. Meanwhile,i didn't forget your past efforts and attempts to assist me in transferring those funds, but despite that it failed us some how because of the reason best known to you. Now contact my Pastor in Cote d'ivoire, his name is Sunday Victor on his (E-mail ) pastor_sunday_1@yahoo.co.jp ask him to send you the CASHAIER CHEQUE of $300.000.00 which I kept for your compensation for all the past efforts and attempts to assist me in this matter. I want you to use it to start some management projects in your country. I appreciated your efforts at that time very much. so feel free and get in touched with my Pastor and instruct him where to send the checque to you.Please do let me know immediately you receive it so that we can share the joy after all the sufferness at that time. In the moment, I am very busy here because of the investment projects which me and the new partner are having at hand, so contact him and he he will send the cheque to you without any delay.Yours Faithfully Amani Bello. +447031844253
Anti-fraud resources: