|
|
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.
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Ms Michelle Marcel <am4758966@yahoo.com.ph>
Reply-To: family4441@yahoo.co.jp
Date: Thu, 27 Oct 2011 11:43:58 +0800 (SGT)
Subject: Ms Michelle Marcel.....
Ms Michelle Marcel.....
Quite frankly, I know
it may have sounded pretty strange for you on why I chose to contact you who
are a complete stranger to me and I must tell you this, I contacted you for the
simple reason that we do not know each other. It would be very difficult for me
to contact anybody here who knows me for this purpose as I may stand the risk
and chance of being cheated of my inheritance because the person would have
known my weaknesses. I may even lose my life that is why I decided to contact
you a complete stranger.
My name is Ms Michelle
Marcel the only child of my parent. During the civil and political crisis in
our country, my parents were poisoned by heartless people. Fortunately for me,
I was in the school when this tragedy took place to my family. I was in coma
for almost two weeks. But I thank the almighty God because I never knew that I
could support the shock of losing almost my family. Right now I am still here in country but very
unsafe for me.
I'm living in great
fear and bondage. I intend leaving this country as soon as possible but only
one thing kept me back. My late father has deposited with one of the prime
financial institution the sum of money, $3.2Million USD .But unfortunately he
did not complete the transaction before he sudden died. I have mapped out 25% out of the total money
for your help and assistances because it looks stupid for me trying to confide
in a total stranger I never met before. By instinct I am convinced you are an
honest person and you have the capacity to handle this transaction with
me. As soon as it is done, I will come
over with to meet you and spend the rest of my live in your country. I wish to
invest the money into estate business and other good business you may propose.
I promise to greatly compensate you for any assistance you may offer me. I do
not know how you may feel about this but I want you to take this very serious
and confidential.
Please contact me with
this email address:
Best wishes
Michelle Marcel
|
Anti-fraud resources:
