|
|
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:
- "million 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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: daniel kwame <danielkwame_45@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: dan2000920009@gmail.com
Date: Fri, 4 Feb 2011 00:48:11 -0800 (PST)
Subject: COMPLIEMENT OF THE SEASON
Hello Friend,
At the moment, I am constrained to issue more details about this business until your positive response is received. Please take a moment of your time to read this and send your response.
I assure you that this deal is worth taking and highly profitable. I am the General Auditor of the BARCLAY'S BANK PLC of Ghana and I am contacting you for a business transaction involving US$4,800,000.00 Million Dollars.
So my aim of contacting you is to assist me to receive this money in your bank account and get 50% of the total funds as commission.
This account has been in suspense for the past few years. With your sincere assistance and co-operation i am determined to work this deal with you if you are very honest. Send all corresponding through this
Send this information to me belows:
FULL NAME
NATIONALITY
AGE
SEX
OCCUPATION IN BRIEF
TELEPHONE/MOBILE NUMBER
FAX NUMBER
MARITAL STATUS
INTERNATIONAL PASSPORT COPY
Thank you for your time and attention.
Best Regards,
Mr.Daniel Kwame
00233249590264
|
Anti-fraud resources:
