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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:
- 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:
- "reward you with 30%" (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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Ms Ehivet Kafouma" <mymail5@globomail.com>
Reply-To: ehivetkafo1@globomail.com
Date: Thu, 04 Oct 2012 15:19:19 -0500
Subject: From Ms Ehivet Kafouma. Please reply as soon as possible. eu
Hello dear,
I am contacting you with a heavy heart due to the ugly development in my
country Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast). There has been increased fighting and
massive killing of people because of Presidential election dispute between the
incumbent President Alassane Ouattara and the opponent former President
Laurent Gbagbo which has been arrested and on 2012 August 26 the 2nd in
command to the former president was also arrested.
I shall appreciate your acceptance to assist me because of God; I will give
you 30% of the total money for your kind. My name is Ehivet Kafouma. My father
was a former senior official in the government but the political opponents
killed my father last year December when the initial crises and violence broke
out.
I have managed to run away for my dear life and now taking refuge in
Dakar-Senegal. When my father was alive he deposited some money with a bank
which he used my name as the next of kin, the amount is $4.7M (Four Million
Seven Hundred Thousand Dollars).
http://news.abidjan.net/p/59512.html
lastly, 1 will like you to assist me in transferring this fund to your bank
account in your country so that it could be used for investment purposes. I
shall reward you with 30% of the total fund, if you assist me with my request.
I shall be expecting your response as quickly as possible.
My regards
Ms Ehivet Kafouma.
Pls My e-mail contact is. ehivetkafo@globomail.com
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