|
|
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:
- "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)
- "high court" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "mark_jeff@osoud.org" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
Fraud email example:
From: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: mark_jeff@osoud.org
Date: Wed, 24 Mar 2010 23:59:17 +0800
Subject: Beneficiary
I wish to notify you again that you were listed as a beneficiary to the total
sum of £15,600,000.00GBP (Fifteen million Six hundred thousand British
pounds) in the codicil and last testament of the deceased. (Name now withheld
since this is our second letter to you).I contacted you because you bear the
surname identity and therefore can present you as the beneficiary to the
inheritance. I therefore reckoned that you can receive these funds as you are
qualified by your name identity.
All the legal papers will be processed in your acceptance. In your acceptance
of this deal, I request that you kindly forward to me your letter of
acceptance; your current telephone and fax numbers and a forwarding address
to enable us file necessary documents at our high court probate division for
the release of this sum of money. You are entitle to 50% of this money while
i will also take 50% Get back to me with the following contact mail
address[mark_jeff@osoud.org]
Yours faithfully,
Mr. Mark Jeff.
|
Anti-fraud resources:
