|
|
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:
- 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:
- "please endeavor to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "you are advice to " (this email uses bad English)
- This email message is a next of kin 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.
- 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.
- abogadoarmandomartingacia@yahoo.es (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "A.M. GARCIA" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <abogadoarmandomartingacia@yahoo.es>
Date: Wed, 16 May 2012 14:47:13 +0200
Subject: IN AN ATTEMPT TO REACH YOU AGAIN
NOTICE OF BEQUEST
Sequel to your non response of our earlier letter to you on behalf of the Trustees and Executor of the estate of
Late Engr. Fiorentino Ramos I once again try to notify you as my earlierletter returned undelivered.
I hereby attempt to reach you again by this same email address.
I wish to notify you that Late Engr. Fiorentino Ramos made you a beneficiary in his WILL.
He left the sum of ($22,500.000.00USD) to you in the Codicil and last testament to his WILL.
Please endeavor to get back to me as soon as possible to enable me conclude my job.
You are advice to Contact me on the below email adderss:
Email:abogadoarmandomartingacia@yahoo.es
Phone:+34-603-140-879
Fax: +34-917-903-799
Yours in Service,
Monica Munoz (Mrs)
Secretary To-
Abogado Armando M. Garcia.
|
Anti-fraud resources:
