|
|
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:
- 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:
- "million 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)
- "very confidential" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- 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.
- johndasola_llb@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. John Dasola." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <johndasola_llb@hotmail.com>
Date: Tue, 12 Nov 2013 15:15:57 -0800
Subject: Letter To You
Attn pls,
Forgive my indignation if this message comes to you as a surprise and
if it might offend you without your prior consent and writing through
this channel.
I am Mr. MJohn Dasola,The Chairman, Contract Awarding committee of the
ECONOMIC COMMUNITY OF WEST AFRICAN STATES ( ECOWAS) with Headquarters
in Lome, Togo.
I am contacting you to handle a very confidential transaction that
involves a transfer of fund to a foreign account. We wish to transfer
the sum of USD 11m (Eleven Million United States Dollars only.) into
your personal or company`s bank account.
This transaction will be successfully concluded within few working
days if you accord us your unalloyed and due cooperation.
Upon the receipt of your response,i will give you more information on
how we are to proceed in this transaction. So kindly reach me through
my private phone and reply back to me through my below private direct
email address for more details.
Thanks while i look forward to your positive reply.
E-mail : johndasola_llb@hotmail.com
With regards,
Mr. John Dasola
|
Anti-fraud resources:
