|
|
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:
- "hundred thousand united states 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)
- "god fearing " (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- This email message is a "dying widow" scam.
Fraud email example:
From: Victoria Jean Carlos <mrsjeancarlos2@btinternet.com>
Reply-To: jeancarlos254@yahoo.de
Date: Tue, 13 Apr 2010 15:42:03 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: Dearest Beloved One
Dearest Beloved One
Â
>From Mrs Jean Victoria Carlos.
Â
Compliments of the day to you! By this e-mail I do sincerely apologise for my intrusion of your privacy. However, My name is Mrs Jean Victoria Carlos from Germany I'm 58 years old suffering from a long time cancer of the breast From all indication my conditions is really deteriorating and it is quite obvious that according to my doctors they have advised me that I may not live for the next two months this is because the cancer stage has gotten to a very bad stage which I believe you might be of help and for this reason I contact you, Let this not sound strange to you.
Â
I was brought up from a motherless babies home and was married to my late husband for twenty years without a child. Who worked with SHELL OIL COMPANY for thirty years before he died in Air France Concorde flight 4590 crash On 25th of July 2000 with other passengers aboard. We were true believers and Since his death I decided not to re-marry before my husband's death he deposited the sum of $5.6Million (Five Million and six Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) with a bank. Presently this money is still with them and the management just wrote me as the true owner to come forward to receive the money for keeping it so long or rather issue a letter of authorization to somebody to receive it on my behalf since I can not come over because of my illness or they get it confiscated.
Â
Presently, I'm with my laptop in a hospital where I have been undergoing treatment for cancer of the breast. my doctors have told me that I have only a few months to live and It is my last wish to see that this money is invested to any organization of your choice and distributed each year among the charity organization, the poor and the motherless baby’s home.. I want you as God fearing person to also use this money to fund church, mosque, orphanages and widows I took this decision before I rest in peace because my time will so on be up As soon as I receive your reply I shall give you the contact of the bank and I will also issue you a letter of authority that will prove you as the new beneficiary of the funds. Remember your religion cannot stop you from doing God's work. Please assure me that you will act accordingly as I stated herein Thank you.
Â
Waiting for your reply
Â
Yours SincerelyÂ
Mrs Jean Victoria Carlos.
|
Anti-fraud resources:
