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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "trunk box" (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)
- "million 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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: vnenita vnenita <vnenita52@yahoo.fr>
Reply-To: lindajoy624@yahoo.fr
Date: Sun, 17 Feb 2013 18:21:31 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: Mrs.LINDA JOY
Dear Friend
I am Mrs LINDA JOY citizen of philippine,widow and legitimate heir to the late formerMinister of finance who was assassinated for been working with the ex-president Joseph Estrada in philippine. I inherited a total sum of 19.3 million dollars from mylatehusband,The presure from my decease husband's family for this money has compelled me to leave Manila and have the money which is concealed in a metallic trunk box is deposited with a security and finance company TOGO LOME under a secret arrangement as a family treasure This means that the security company does not know the content of this box that was shipped fromthe Philippine to TOGO LOME under a diplomatic coverage.My purpose of asking for your assistance boil down to the fact that I don't want my late husband's family to be aware or name in volve. and the deposit statement of the box authorized the company to make this box avaliable for shipment on request only to my foreign bussiness
representative,thoughunname.Hence I want you to contact the the security company asmy bussiness partner, after receiving the prove from me to enable the company release the consigment to you diplomatically, while I join you on the the arrival date of thebox then I will join you to give you 20% of the money instantly before I go on with the proposed investment in your domain provided is secured and investment friendly. Please if you are interested and willing to represent me as my bussiness partner kindly write me as soon aspossible. I awaits your urgent response.Best wishes
Mrs.LINDA JOY
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