|
|
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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "barr." (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Powell Mike" <info@lawyer.com>
Reply-To: barry.moore@bluesash.net
Date: Thu, 8 Nov 2012 11:16:20 -0000
Subject: PLEASE ACCEPT THIS COMPENSATION AND FORGIVE ME
Dear friend,
Its been quite long since we heard from each other. Betrayal they say is the
willful slaughter of hope. I have betrayed you my friend from the moment you
responded to that email I sent to you some time ago., from that moment you
accepted that lotto wining notice and then you sent me your name, address
phone
and account details.
From that moment I choose to betray you when you choose to trust me.I
diverted the
wining to myself.I am so so sorry that you have lost a lot of money to
claim this
prize.
I am in a poor state of health now and i may have died from cancer before
my Son
send you this letter,but please accept the Seven hundred and sixty thousand
dollars compensation as an atonement for my sin against you.Please contact my
legal adviser Barr.Barry based in Malaysia because I have given him
instructions
to deliver this money to you as soon as possible.
You can contact my legal adviser Barr.Barry his email [
barry.moore@bluesash.net
] just tell him that you are contacting him under instruction from
Code:GUUTU992
he will honor my WILL and pay you within Forty eight hours. Forgive me
this is
all i ask for.Please send him your I.D,phone and address for verification and
payment processing.My spirit will be uplifted once you get this compensation.
Regards
GUUTU992
|
Anti-fraud resources:
