|
|
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:
- "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "abidjan" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Miss Jenifer Konate <chika_odili2003@yahoo.fr>
Reply-To: missjenifer2010@hotmail.com
Date: Sat, 2 Oct 2010 10:29:42 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: I WANT TO INVEST IN YOUR COMPANY.
I WANT TO INVEST IN YOUR COMPANY.
Hello Dear,
Greetings. With warm heart I offer my friendship and greetings, and I hope that this mail will meets you in good time.However strange or surprising this contact might seem to you as we have not meet personally or had any dealings in the past. I humbly ask that you take due consideration of its importance and immense benefit.
My name is Jenifer konate from Republic of Sierra-Leone. I have something very important that i would like to confide in you please,I have a reasonable amount of money which i inherited from my late father (Eleven Million Five Hundred thousand Euro. €11.500.000.00. deposited in IVORY COAST Abidjan-Cote D'Ivoire which I want to invest in your country with you and again in a very profitable venture.
Currently I am residing in Ivory coast i will like you to reply me immediatly so that i can give you more details about the transaction.
I‘m expecting your reply for more explanation and I am offering 10% of this money to you for your efforts and assistance in this transaction. If accepted then forward to me your full informations such as Stated Bello:
1. Your direct telephone numbers and fax :
2. Your full name:
3. Your address:
Please consider this and get back to me as soon as possible.
I will wait untill i hear back from you.
Thanks and have a nice day.
My sincere regards to you,
Jenifer konate.
|
Anti-fraud resources:
