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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:
- "million us dollars" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "monrovia" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "liberia" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- This email message is a orphan scam.
- Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
- 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.
- john_kofi2007@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: John <john_kofi7@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: john_kofi2007@hotmail.com
Date: Fri, 3 Aug 2012 10:25:38 -0700
Subject: PLEASE I NEED YOUR HELP
Goodday,
My name is John Kofi from Liberia i am the only son to late Dr. Famous Kofi the former Head of account Government Gold mines Monrovia my father died during the civil war in my country i am presently in Ghana to make claims to the Deposit my fater told me about before he died from the bullet of the rebels who attacked our home.
My father deposited a box containing $8 million us dollars when i approached my late father barrister with the documents he told me that i must present the foreign partner to my father before the security and finance company can release the deposit this is because as a civil servant my fater were forbided to have such money so he made an agreement that without his foreign partner the box should not be released.
I am willing to offer you 40% of the total amount and i am also setting aside 10% for any expenses you will not only help me receive the funds but also help me to invest the funds, i am waiting for your mail so i can send your name to the barrister as the partner to my late father. you can reach me on this email (john_kofi2007@hotmail.com)
Please get back to me as soon as possible.
God bless.
John Kofi
Goodday, My name is John Kofi from Liberia i am the only son to late Dr. Famous Kofi the former Head of account Government Gold mines Monrovia my father died during the civil war in my country i am presently in Ghana to make claims to the Deposit my fater told me about before he died from the bullet of the rebels who attacked our home. My father deposited a box containing $8 million us dollars when i approached my late father barrister with the documents he told me that i must present the foreign partner to my father before the security and finance company can release the deposit this is because as a civil servant my fater were forbided to have such money so he made an agreement that without his foreign partner the box should not be released. I am willing to offer you 40% of the total amount and i am also setting aside 10% for any expenses you will not only help me receive the funds but also help me to invest the funds, i am waiting for your mail so i can send your name to the barrister as the partner to my late father. you can reach me on this email (john_kofi2007@hotmail.com) Please get back to me as soon as possible.
God bless.
John Kofi
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