|
|
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:
- 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.
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- 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.
Fraud email example:
From: "Dr.John Godwin" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <officemailbox02@webmail.co.za>
Date: Thu, 12 Nov 2009 17:37:09 +0100
Subject: DID YOU AUTHORIZE ANYONETO CLAIM YOUR PAYMENT?
ATTENTION:
LONG OVER DUE PAYMENT ON YOUR NAME AND FAVOUR.
I AM DR.JOHN GODWIN.A DIRECTOR WITH THE FEDERAL MINISTRY OF FINANCE AND WAS
INSTRUCTED BY THE HON. MINISTER OF FINANCE TO FIND OUT BEFORE THE END OF
THIS MONTH, WHY YOUR ATM MASTER CARD VALUED US$1.M CONTRACT PART PAYMENT IS
STILL UNCLAIMED.
HOWEVER, THEIR ARE TWO GENTLEMEN HERE WHO CAME FROM YOUR COUNTRY TO CLAIM
THIS ATM MASTER CARD ON YOUR BEHALF AND THE REASON GIVING TO US IS THAT YOU
ARE THE ONE WHO SENT THEM THAT YOU ARE TERMINAL SICK.
KINDLY GET BACK TO ME FOR FURTHER INFORMATION.
YOURS FAITHFULLY,
DR.JOHN GODWIN
DIRECT LINE:
+234-708-235-3143
|
Anti-fraud resources:
