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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:
- "search for a reliable person" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "abidjan" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- This email message is a orphan scam.
- 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.
- +22558111030 (Cote d'Ivoire, probably a prepaid mobile phone)
- 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.
- rose.michael2012@yahoo.de (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Rosemary Michael <rose.michael2010@yahoo.de>
Reply-To: rose.michael155@yahoo.de
Date: Mon, 26 Mar 2012 17:47:43 +0800 (SGT)
Subject: All the best 2012 for You
Greetings,
MISS ROSEMARY SAROTTE MICHAEL
Residence Maya 75.
BP45 Abidjan 01
ABIDJAN ,COTE D'IVOIRE
Tel:(+22558111030).
E-mail:(rose.michael2012@yahoo.de)
I know my message will come to you as asurprise.Don't worry I was totally convinced to write you inreference of the transfer of US$15.5 Million to your account for onward investment Hotel industries in your country.
I got your contact address on my desperate search for a reliable person/ company for partnership investments overseas. I am Miss.Rosemary Sarotte Michael the duagther of DR V.C. Michael a Sierra Leone This fund represent the huge Sales of Gold and Diamond he diverted while in office as the director general for Gold and Diamond Mining Co-Operationin Sierra Leone DR V.C. Michael my late father was killed be his besiness associates because of his is bussiness is doing well ,I was told to leave my country to Abidjan the capital city of Ivory Coast for my life sake after my mother was killed also, according to the will of my late father before his death he advise me to look for a foreigner who will stand as the beneficiary of the fund.
Meanwhile, I am writing to know if you can stand as the beneficiary of the fund It is here in Abidjan he deposited this said money in security company as family valuables. I got to know about this information and as well able to recover all the relevant documents regards to this deposit through his foreign advise here in Abidjan.
If you are thus and truly willing to assist me and in transferring of this fund kindly write me through my email address ,More information about the lifting of this funds legally follows immediately after your positive reply at my private email address (rose.michael2012@yahoo.de) OR my telphone numbers as follow (+22558111030).
Sincerely.
Rosemary Sarotte Michael
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