|
|
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.
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
Fraud email example:
From: "James" <b77775@gmail.com>
Reply-To: <b77775@aol.com>
Date: Sat, 11 Dec 2010 15:28:19 -0800
Subject: RE: Confidential
Dear sir,
I am Mr.James Hugo nu,Financial Director of one of the banks in North America
I have a confidential brief from this bank and I am asking
for your partnership in re- profiling funds.What I require from you is your honest co-operation, I
guarantee you that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you and I from any breach of the law.
Please this email is not to be disclosed to a third party and disregard if
you do not appreciate this
proposition I have offer you.
All documents that will back you up shall be arranged and
made available to you, as soon as I receive your reply with the below information:
1) FULL NAME
2) ADDRESS
3) PRIVATE PHONE.
4) NATURE OF BUSINESS AND POSITION
I shall furnish you with the proper procedure
|
Anti-fraud resources:
