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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:
- "hundred thousand united states 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.)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
- This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- +447035943254 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
- 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.
- barrssteven.fisher@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "KATHY BATES" <mail@info.net>
Reply-To: barrssteven.fisher@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 7 Jan 2013 22:38:42 -0200 (BRST)
Subject: KATHY BATES !!!
Hello,
Greetings to You. My name is Kathy Bates . I am 64 years old and
I was diagnosed of cancer about 2 years ago. I will be going in for an
operation later today.I decided to WILL/donate the sum of Fifteen Million
Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars to you for the good
work of the lord.
Contact my lawyer with this email:
Name: Barrister Steven Fisher
Email:barrssteven.fisher@gmail.com
Tell: +447035943254
Tell him that I have WILLED 15.500m USD to you by quoting my
personal reference number LLP/953/900//318US/UK.
As soon as you contact him with this details quoted above, he should be
able to recognize you and help in claiming this amount from my
Bank.
Mean while you are advised to keep this mail and it contents confidential
as i really want my wish accomplish at the end of the day.Please do pray
to God for my soul. My friend please do not send me any email as you are
to send my barrister an email directly.
God Bless.
Regards,
Kathy Bates.
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