|
|
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:
- "utmost confidentiality" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
Fraud email example:
From: "Dr.Do Su" <jasdanj@sapo.pt>
Reply-To: alldosumichael@live.com
Date: Tue, 29 Nov 2011 16:44:15 +0100
Subject: Info
Sir,
We wish to introduce a mutually beneficial business that needs utmost confidentiality.I am Dr MD Su a government servant in Africa.
Its all about transfer of $29.6M to your account with little liability and its very safe.This money resulted from an over-invoiced contract payment to a foreign contractor and its basically for us and now awaiting transfer to a foreign bank account,hence our contact.NOTE:Government servants are not allowed to have huge sums or operate foreign accounts.
You are to provide an account and will be compensated adequately with 20% of the said amount as our shares will be invested in your country.Call/sms:+234 815 272 1832.Thanks
Best regards,
Dr.MD Su
|
Anti-fraud resources:
