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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.
- 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:
- "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- 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.
- hullfoster123@myway.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Hull Foster" <hullfoster2@tiscali.cz>
Reply-To: hullfoster123@sify.com
Date: Sun, 2 May 2010 22:42:02 +0800
Subject: Good day dear,
Good day dear,
Sorry that am coming to you in this manner, just that I will like you to
help me see my final wish come true,i am very sick and have some fund to
donate to the Haiti (22M.usd)in the Security Company.I want you to act as
my new beneficiary to receive the fund and put it in good use by using it
to fund the less privileged.I have set aside 20% for you for your time and
efforts.
I need your urgent reply so that I will not have to go on sourcing for
another credible person to handle this project. If you are okay with the
condition,do not hesitate to send me mail(hullfoster123@myway.com} so that
i can furnish you up with all the information needed.
I wish to hear from you soon.
God bless you.
Foster.
______________________________________
http://klik.tiscali.cz/
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Anti-fraud resources:
