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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:
- "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)
- "waiting for your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "can i trust you?" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "diplomatic courier" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "offshore account" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
- "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "capt.schmitz1@live.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: <sgt5@Military815.onmicrosoft.com>
Reply-To: <capt.schmitz1@live.com>
Date: Thu, 21 Nov 2013 23:11:27 +0530
Subject: From Captain MARK SMITH
Hello Friend,
I need your sincere and honest assistance.My name is Captain MARK SMITH. I am in the united nations Engineering military camp unit here in Kabul Afghanistan.Based on
the United States legislative and executive decision for withdrawing troops from Afghanistan I have been redeployed to come and work in your country on the platform
of North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) soon.
I have the sum of 7.2 million dollars which i made from crude oil business here in Afghanistan.I need a good partner, someone i can trust to receive this money for
investment. It is oil money and legal. Basically since i am working for the government i cannot keep these funds, but i want to transfer and move the funds to you so
that you can keep it for me in your safe account or an offshore account but i am moving it through Diplomatic means to send it to your house directly or a bank of your
choice using Diplomatic Courier Service, in less than 4 days the box will be in your custody.
The most important thing is that can i trust you? I will give you 30% of the total money as a compensation for your sincere and trustworthy help and 70% for me. Your
own part of this deal is to find a safe place where the funds can be sent to.My own part is sending it to you. If you are interested i will furnish you with more
details.Waiting for your urgent response.Please reply to my private email:capt.schmitz1@live.com
Regards,
Capt.MARK SMITH
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