|
|
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)
- "offshore 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 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "mr jerry ntai" <jerry.ntai_mbk@yahoo.com.hk>
Reply-To: mr_jerryntai@excite.co.jp
Date: Tue, 24 Jul 2012 02:20:00 -0700
Subject: mail for you
Compliment of the day,
Although you might be apprehensive about my email as we have not met before,My name is Mr.jerry Ntai, Head of Operation in one of the Bank in Hong Kong.I have a secured business proposal in the tune of $21.5m to be transferred to an offshore account with your assistance.Please treat this business with utmost Confidentiality and send me your full contact details in this form below if your are interested.
Full Name
Current Residential Address
Private Telephone Number
And after this I shall provide you with more details, of this operation.
Kind Regards,
Mr.Jerry Ntai
|
Anti-fraud resources:
