|
|
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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- 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.
- ibrahim.karim2012@yahoo.com (Yahoo; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: HELLO <leefprivatebox@yahoo.com.hk>
Reply-To: ibrahim.karim85@yahoo.com
Date: Fri, 30 Nov 2012 16:28:39 +0800 (SGT)
Subject: THE SITUATION IN LIBYA
THE SITUATION IN LIBYA
Dear Friend
I am Mr. Ibrahim Karim, independent non-executive director of Misrata people's Jamariya Bank, Libya. I have a transaction of {forty five million five hundred thousand dollars} to bring to your attention if only you would be interested and willing to assist me to move the fund to your destination,
Note / every financial institution's have been paralyzed in the country at the moment but I have managed to move the fund out of Libya,
presently am under house arrest with my families for financial fraud with the past Libyan Governments if you indicate your full interest to help me to move this fund from the present location to your chosen account for save keeping i will give you 30% of the total amount. Contact me for more details.
If you are willing to partake in the process please
Reply me through my private email :( ibrahim.karim2012@yahoo.com )
Yours sincerely
Mr. Ibrahim Karim,
Misrata Libya.
{forty five million five hundred thousand dollars}
|
Anti-fraud resources:
