|
|
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:
- "abidjan" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "remain blessed" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- This email message is a "dying widow" scam.
Fraud email example:
From: Madam Felicia Gilbert <feliciagilbert60@yahoo.com.hk>
Reply-To: felicia_gilbert@ymail.com
Date: Thu, 3 Mar 2011 15:57:09 -0800 (PST)
Subject: From: Madam Felicia Gilbert.
From: Madam Felicia Gilbert.
Address;lot 268 Rue de Bingerville Cocody Abidjan Cote d'Ivoire
I am Madam Felicia Gilbert from Kuwait. I am married to Mr. Akissi Gilbert who worked with Kuwait embassy in Ivory Coast for nine years. We were married for twenty years without a child. He died after a brief illness that lasted only four days.
Before his death in 2009 he deposited ($10.5m dollars, USD) in one of the baest Securety Company here in Ivory Coast which i inherited from him mylate husband.Recently, i have serious sickness which is cancer problem and the one that disturbs me most is stroke sickness which is almost deformed me.
Having known my condition is like this and i can't keep on waiting I decided to donate this fund to a church or individual that will use this money the way I am going to instruct here.To help, orphanages, widows. I took this decision because I don’t have any child that will inherit this money and i dont want my husband relatives to know, I have my resince for that. My happiness is that I lived a life of a worthy Christian.
I want you to please think very well before responding to this letter as I want an honest person and also a person who will be ready to help so that we can finalize the fund transfer to you in your country. Also i will send you the necessary deposited documents involved in the said fund and my identification after reading from you.
Any delay in your reply will give me room in sourcing another church or
individual for this same purpose. Hoping to receive your reply.
Remain blessed in the Lord.
Yours in Christ,
Madam Felicia Gilbert.
|
Anti-fraud resources:
