|
|
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:
- 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.
- 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.
- smith.raymond33@london.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "MICROSOFT® COPERATION" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <prize.remitsdepts@mail.md>
Date: Wed, 2 Jun 2010 16:38:26 +0530
Subject: HURRAY !!! PRIZE AWARD
Attn:Sir/Madam,
My Name is Raymond Smith From UK.I'm in search of a foreign reliable partner to invest my funds in India which has been deposited by an injunction that the funds should be used in India in good and lucrative investment.
I have set $19.5MUSD for this purpose.At your readiness and interest,kindly contact me via my e-mail address for further details in this regard.Meanwhile the sharing perimeter will be based on (35% for you) 60% for the investment and 5% for any incurred expenses in course of transferration.And do send me the below details for proper recognition.
1.Your full name and occupation.
2.Your Date of Birth and direct mobile number.
3.Your home or office address.
Send Your Information to the email: ( smith.raymond33@london.com )
Awaiting your immediate response for the expedite of action.
Your Truely,
Dr.Raymond Smith.
|
Anti-fraud resources: