|
|
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:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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)
- "mrsalif_zongo@9.cn" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
Fraud email example:
From: Mr Salif Zongo <salif_zongo@insing.com>
Reply-To: mrsalif_zongo@9.cn
Date: Wed, 26 Jan 2011 15:44:24 +0900 (KST)
Subject: FROM THE DESK OF: Mr SALIF ZONGO.
FROM THE DESK OF: Mr SALIF
ZONGO.
AUDITS & ACCOUNTS DEPT
AFRICAN
DEVELOPMENT BANK (A.D.B)
Ouagaduoguo Burkina
Faso.
Private Phone Number+22678534867
E-mail
mrsalif_zongo@9.cn
Attention:
Please
I am Mr Salif Zongo.. the manager Audit & Accounts dept. in
the african developmnet bank Burkina Faso (ADB). I am writing to request your
assistance to transfer the sum of $10.500.000.00 (Ten million, five hundred
thousand United States dollars) into your accounts.
The above sum
belongs to our deceased customer late Mr Jose D. Sau from Peru who died along
with his entire family in the Benin plane crash
2003 and since then the fund has been in a suspense
account.
After my further investigation, I discovered that Mr
Jose D. Sau died with his next of kin and according to the laws and constitution
guiding this banking
institution stated that after the expiration of (9) Nine years, if no
body or person comes for the claim as the next of kin, the fund will be channel
into national treasury as unclaimed fund. Because of the static of this
transaction I want you to stand as the next of kin so that our bank will accord
you the recognition and have the fund transfer to your account.
The
total sum will be shared as follows: 60% for me, 40% for you and expenses
incidental occur during the transfer will be incur by both of us.
The
transfer is risk free on both sides hence you are going to follow my instruction
till the fund transfer to your account.
More details information with the
text of application form will be forwarded to you to breakdown explaining
comprehensively what require of you.
Your Full
Name.............................
Your
Sex..................................
Your Age..................
Your
Country...........
Passport / driving
license.......
Marital Status...................
Your
Occupation...............
Your Personal Mobile Number................
Your
Personal Fax Number.....................
Thanks
Mr Salif
Zongo.
Audits & Accounts Manager
+22678534867
|
Anti-fraud resources: