|
|
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:
- "chambers" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Peter Marchant" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <wilimood@tlen.pl>
Date: Wed, 14 May 2014 18:25:52 -0700
Subject: Attention: Reply for details
Attention: Reply for more details.
I am a Trustee and Executor of the estate of a deceased client. I have sat on a forgotten financial inheritance for more than five years. This fund is required to be transferred to the treasury as an unclaimed fund, since the fund has no beneficially, We can both collaborate to facilitate the release and transfer of the fund. Your part would be to receive the funds as the beneficiary. Your help will be appreciated with half of the total sum. All legal documents to aid your claim of this fund and to prove your relationship with the deceased will be provided. I will prepare the required documents. The process is risk free. Reply if interested for more details.
I look forward to our partnership and trust.
Kind Regards,
Peter Marchant
Marchant Chambers
63 Mahatma Gandhi Road
Fort Mumbai 400 001
India
|
Anti-fraud resources:
