|
|
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:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "federal republic of benin" (Benin, Cameroon, etc. are no Federal Republics, unlike Nigeria where this type of scam was invented)
- This email message is a "New Partner from Paraguay" scam.
- This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
Fraud email example:
From: Mrs Ada Godwin Bonds <mrsgodwin1@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 10 May 2014 02:22:30 -0700
Subject: Attn:
I am glad to inform you that I have successfully transferred the funds
under the co-operation of a new partner from Paraguay.And presently am in
Paraguay for some investment projects and medical check up with my own
share of the total sum. as you should understand that during the period of
processing the transfer that my health situation was very poor. Meanwhile,
I did not forget all your past efforts and attempts to assist me in
transferring the funds despite that it failed us some how along the way.
Now I will like you to contact my secretary who is right now in Federal
Republic Of Benin
His name is : PASTOR MARK
His email: ( pastor_mark1@yeah.net )
Mobile:+229 98325872
And ask him to send you the total sum of $800.000.00 US Dollars Atm Card
which I kept for you, for your compensation for all the past efforts and
attempts to assist me in this matter as I am a very strong and born again
christian and will never easily forget all your passt efforts to assist no
matter that i was not able to get it conclude with you.I appreciated all
your efforts at that time very much. So feel free and get in touched with
my secretary PASTOR MARK and instruct him where to send the money to you...
1. YOUR FULL NAMES:______
2. Postal ADDRESS:_______
3. PHONE NUMBER:_________
4.EMAIL ADDRESS:________
5. SEX:_____
6. AGE:_____
7. OCCUPATION:________
8. NATIONALITY:________
Please do let me know immediately you receive it so that we can share the
joy after all the sufferies at that time. In the moment,I am very busy here
because of the investment projects and my health which me and my new
partners are having at hand. Finally, remember that I had forwarded
instruction to my secretary on your behalf in respect to that matter as
well, So feel free to get in touch with him in respect to that so that he
will send the amount in the Atm Card to you without any delay
Yours faithfully.
Mrs Ada Godwin.
|
Anti-fraud resources:
