|
|
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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "will come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "top secret" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: EVELYN HANSON <evelyn.hanson21@btinternet.com>
Reply-To: evelynhanson1427@yahoo.com
Date: Thu, 17 Jun 2010 12:14:12 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: Hello My Dear Friend
Hello My Dear Friend
Permit me to inform you of my desire of going into business relationship with you. I am quite aware that my message will come to you as a surprise because it is indeed very strange for someone you have not met before to contact you in this regard. I am writing to seek your partnership in the investment of my inheritance.
I am Ms Evelyn Hanson From Ivory Coast, I am an orphan and I need your honest assistance to transfer my inheritance (USD$7.500, 000.00) which my late father deposited in a security company. here befor his assasination for reason which I will let you know as soon as I hear your quick reply. I am honourable seeking your assistance in the following ways.
(1) To serve as my guardian in your country while I will depend on your expert advise since l am a girl of 20 years.
(2) To make arrangement for me to come over to your country in order to further my university education and to secure a residential permit for me in your country.
Moreover l am willing to offer you 20% of the total sum as compensation for your assistance in the transfer of this deposit to your country. Furthermore, you can indicate your option towards assisting me as l believed that this project would be concluded within seven days you signify interest to assist me by contacting the security company.
Hoping to hearing from you soon. May God bless you as you extend your helping hand to the needy.
Please I would like you to keep this proposal as a top secret and delete it if you are not interested in assist me, I wish you a happy Weekend.
Best wishes
Sincerely,
Ms Evelyn Hanson.
|
Anti-fraud resources:
