|
|
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.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "certified bank draft" (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.
Fraud email example:
From: "Micheal Obi" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <donaldwilliams@emailclick.com>
Date: Wed, 16 Dec 2009 15:35:57 -0800
Subject: CONPENSATION NOTIFICATION
Dearest Friend,
This is to inform you about my success in getting the fund transferred under the cooperation of a new partner from India. Presently I'am in India 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 despite that it failed us some how.Now contact my secretary,his name is donald williams and his email address is (donaldwilliams@emailclick.com) ask him to send you the total US$1million in a Certified Bank Draft which i kept for your compensation for all the past efforts and attempts to assist me in this matter. I appreciated your efforts at that time very much.
So feel free and get in touched with my secretary donald williams and instruct him where to send the amount to you.
Please do let me know immediately you receive it so that we can share the joy after all the suffering at that time. in the moment, I am very busy here because of the investment projects which I and my new partner are having at hand.
Finally I have forwarded instruction to my secretary to send the certified Bank Draft to you, so feel free to get in touch with donald williams at donaldwilliams@emailclick.com and he will update you send the amount to you without any delay.
Best Regards
Usman musa
|
Anti-fraud resources:
