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joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
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"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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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:
- "dormant account" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
- This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- manegerzarucena@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "MR Zarucena Koffi" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <manegerzarucena@hotmail.com>
Date: Sun, 3 Jul 2011 13:13:50 +0100
Subject: URGENT REPLY.
GOOD DAY
I AM MR Zarucena Koffi A FINANCIAL AUDITOR IN A COMMERCIAL BANK HERE IN GHANA REPUBLIC ,WE DISCOVER A DORMANT ACCOUNT THAT HAS BEEN WITH US FOR ATLEAST 8 YEARS NOW AND DURING OUR LAST AUDIT I DISCOVER THAT THE RIGHTFUL BENNEFICIARY OF THIS FUND DIED ON PLANE CRASH , AND I HAVE DISCOVERED THAT HIS WIFE DIED ALONG WITH HIM LEFT NOONE AS NEXT OF KIN FOR THIS DORMANT ACCOUNT. BUT MY BANK DID NOT ABOUT THIS SECRET NOW. AND MY BANK IS WAITING FOR HIS NEXT OF KIN TO APPLY FOR THE CLAIM,
BECAUSE OF THESE USEFUL INFORMATIONS AND SOME OF THE BACKING DOCUMENTS WHICH I HAVE SECURED FOR THE CLAIM OF THIS FUND TOTAL EXTIMETED AT $30 000.000.00(thirty MILLION USD) FOR THE FACT THAT THE LATE ACCOUNT HOLDER IS FROM USA AND ALSO A GOLD MERCHANDISE AND ALSO IN CRUDE OIL IN WEST AFRICA, SO NO GHANIAN OR ANY STAFF OF MY BANK CAN ALLOWED TO CLAIM THIS FUND, SO MY DEAR THAT WAS WHY I AM LOOKING FOR A GOOD PERSON TO BEAR THE NEXT OF KIN TO THE DESEASE AND I WILL ALSO GIVE YOU SOME PROVE DOCUMENTS THAT CAN COVER IT UP. THERE IS NO RISK AT ALL.
LISTERN I MUST TELL YOU THE TRUTH AND I MUST TELL YOU THIS BEFORE WE START IT , OUR SHARING IS ME 60/40 YOURS THE REASON WHY I SAID THIS IS BECAUSE SOME PEOPLE MAY TRY TO CHEAT OTHERS WHEN MONEY COMES SO THE ISSUE OF SHARING IS VERY IMPORTANT.
AS SOON AS YOU SEND TO ME YOUR PHONE AND FAX NUMBER INCLUDING YOUR ADDRESS AND OTHER CONTACTS OF YOURS I SHALL GIVE YOU A DRAFT APPLICATION LETTER TO SEND TO THE BANK WITH MY BANK REMMITTANCE DEPT CONTACTS TO FORWARD THE LETTER TO THEM FOR THE PAYMENT APPROVAL.
FEE FREE TO ASK ME ANY QUESTION HERE FOR YOUR USEFUL UNDERSTANDING.
I AM EXPECTING YOUR IMMEDIATE RESPONSE.
BEST REGARDS
MR Zarucena Koffi
manegerzarucena@hotmail.com
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