|
|
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:
- 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)
- "remain blessed" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- This email message is a "dying widow" scam.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs. Theresa Joshua" <porisu888@yahoo.co.jp>
Reply-To: "Mrs. Theresa Joshua" <mrs_theresajoshua@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Sat, 5 Apr 2014 01:05:27 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Message From Hospital
Greetings My Beloved,
Do you have time to do this for me ?
I beg you with the name of God reply me immediately as soon as I receive your reply I will forward your information’s to the bank to transfer the money to you Information’s ok my name is Mrs. Theresa Joshua, I have been suffering from ovarian cancer disease and my doctor says that I have just few days to leave. I am 53 years from France, but based in Ivory Coast. I was married to Late Edward Joshua who was a contractor with the government of Cote d'Ivoire before he died after few days in the hospital.
I am a business woman dealing with cocoa exportation when my late husband was alive he deposited the sum of 4.400 Million Dollars with a Bank in Cote d'Ivoire Presently this money is still in the custody of the Bank here in Cote d’Ivoire.
My Doctor told me that it is very likely I will die within few days or months due to a blood cancer {LUCAMIA}.I have decided to donate the money for charity to you since I do not have a child to inherit it and its better I do not die leaving the money here without it reaching to the poor and the less privileged ones in the society. As soon as I receive your reply then my house helper will send the documents of the fund with the contact of the lawyer that will assist you to make sure that the transfer will be done as I desired.
.
Please always pray for me so that God can give me more good health to stay in this world because the doctors said that I will be going another major operation and the told me that the operation is 50/50 chance, so always remember me in your daily prayer and also tell your pastor to also pray for me so that I will not die, I will be expecting to hear from you and may God give you the grace to fulfil my last heart desire on earth.
Regards and Remain Blessed.
Mrs. Theresa Joshua
|
Anti-fraud resources:
