|
|
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:
- "a security company " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "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: Capt Ken <davis@mail.com>
Reply-To: Capt Ken <dr_kensherman02@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Tue, 8 Apr 2014 21:28:14 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Dear Friend
PLEASE READ AND KEEP AS A SECRET MY FRIEND.
Last week we stumbled on the Al Querida's second in command mull-ti
million dollars castle
in the middle of a forest close to the eastern Marja when we invaded the
building all the insurgent escaped then we got full entrance to that
mansion my friend there was lots of treasure in that building different
kind of weapons you can't even find in some US barracks
all in that mansion but in one of the secret room we discovered sum amount
of money worth $150 million USD which we decide to share among us as i
talk to you now i have $18 million USD as my share which i have secretly
packaged in my personal luggage i want to send it out immediately before
we change base so i will make you the beneficiary so you can keep them for
me until i arrive i will give you a good 20% but don't betray me i will
make an urgent arrangement with the U.N red cross Captain who brings our
exchange materials to help me include the luggage's in the military cargo
that will be leaving here before weekend
when they get out of Afghanistan they will deposit the boxes with a
security company that will bring them over to you i will declare that i
have a personal item so no one will open the boxes because is properly
locked with codes except i give them out to you you will help me secure
them and safe keep them until my assignment is over i trust you we will
be everlasting friends when i return home i will visit you so we disburse
the money gradually into different investment and have a good retirement
don't discuss this with any one for security purpose when the money
I urgently wait to hear from you.
Capt. Ken.
|
Anti-fraud resources:
