|
|
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 state 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)
- "million us 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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- This email message is a "New Partner from Paraguay" scam.
- Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
- 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.
- agent.dept1@yahoo.com.tw (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr.Akoms Williams Esq" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <agent.dept1@yahoo.com.tw>
Date: Mon, 24 Feb 2014 23:53:08 +0100
Subject: I DID NOT FORGET YOUR PAST EFFORTS
Dear Partner,
Greetings to you !
How are you with your family? I hope fine. I'm happy to inform you about my success in getting those funds transferred under the cooperation of a new partner from Venezuela. Presently I’m in Venezuela, meanwhile I didn't forget your past efforts to assist me in transferring those funds despite that it later failed us some how. Now contact my Personal secretary In Cotonou Benin Rep. Mr.Nicholas Smith
Feel free to contact him via his e-mail id ( agent.dept1@yahoo.com.tw ) and ask him to send you the Bank Draft. worth sum of ($4.5Million US Dollars) which I kept for your compensation for all the past efforts and attempts you made to assist me in this transaction, despite it later failed us due to some inconveniences and do not fail to remember that my main purpose of this gift to you is because I don't want any body to know about the business or expose me since I will never expose any body. Therefore, feel free to get in touch with my secretary and he will send the Bank Draft. VALUED $4.5Million united state dollars to you.
Full names: __
Address:____
Zip Code:___
Sex: ___
Age: __
Marital status: ____
Occupation/Position: ___
Scann copy of any of your identification:_
Tel/House /private: __
Regards,
Mr.Akoms Williams Esq
Venezuela
|
Anti-fraud resources:
