|
|
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 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Yasin Bin Rahim" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <yasbrahim@hotmail.com>
Date: Sat, 25 Jun 2011 11:16:11 -0400
Subject: Attention Please ( About my country War )
Assalamuwaliekum
Dear Sir
I am Yasin Bin Rahim, an Ivorian Coast citizen presently in Ghana due to the insurgence currently going on in my country as my city Abidjan was being bombarded daily with series of murder and injuries. I flew to Ghana in order to avoid being killed.
My father was killed at the beginning of the uprising, because of his support for the revolt (rebels) along with some other members of my family. Before the crisis, I was aware that my father deposited some money about USD5.6million for safe-keeping in a Finance House vault in Malaysia. I am in possession of the documents relating to this deposit and I am the next of kin to this funds.
I am a 23year old undergraduate. I have little knowledge on a transaction of this nature.
Please I need your assistance for the claim and investment of this fund. You will be compensated with an agreed commission at the end of the business.
Please contact me: yasbrahim@ymail.com
Thank you.
Remain Blessed,
Yasin Rahim
|
Anti-fraud resources:
