|
|
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.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "million 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)
- "abidjan" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "god fearing " (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- This email message is a "dying widow" 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.
- bmrsjeane@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: MRS. JEANE BENEDICT <bmrsjeane@yahoo.com>
Date: 19 Aug 2009 21:37:20 -0700
Subject: Dating 101: How to Balance the Power in Your Relationship
Your friend, MRS. JEANE BENEDICT (bmrsjeane@yahoo.com) has sent you this information from Yahoo! Personals.
(Email address has not been verified.)
Personal message:
GOD BLESS YOU,
I am MRS. JEANE BENEDICT I am married to MR BAT BENEDICT a citizen of Cote d'lvoire who worked with Kuwait embassy here in Cote d'lvoire,before he died in the year 2007. We were married for many years without a child. He died after a brief illness that lasted for only four days.
When my late husband was alive he deposited the sum of (5M USD) Five Million Dollars in a Finance Security Company here in Abidjan.
Recently,my Doctor told me that I would not last for the next Eight months due to my cancer problem. Having known my condition I decided to donate this fund to a church or a God fearing person that will utilize to help the poor.
Reply me here mrsjeane3@cantv.net,for more details waiting to hear from you,
Dating 101: How to Balance the Power in Your Relationship
http://dating.personals.yahoo.com/singles/relationships/24051/dating-101-how-to-balance-the-power-in-your-relationship
Yahoo! Personals
http://personals.yahoo.com/
|
Anti-fraud resources:
