|
|
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 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- mrsamuelgoodluck@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: MR SAMUEL GOODLUCK <t.bordonaro@alice.it>
Reply-To: mrsamuelgoodluck@gmail.com
Date: Wed, 28 May 2014 16:59:47 +0200 (CEST)
Subject: From Interpol Police Command West Africa Cotonou Benin Republic.
>From international Interpol police force unit Benin rep.
This email is being directed to you because your email address was found in
One of the scam artists file and computer hard disk in our custody here in
Benin rep and with the information gathered from arrested scam artist.
We notice that you have been scammed of so much of your hard earn money and we
Have decided to compensate you with this funds to recover the lost of your
fees Being robbed.
You are therefore being compensated with the total sum $2.5 million dollars to
Be transferred to you personally through an online banking system.
Provide your name, address and phone number to enable bank start the
processing
Of your online banking account registration.
Regard, s
Email:mrsamuelgoodluck@gmail.com
Phone:+229-9928-6468
Mr.samuel goodluck
Inspector general.
|
Anti-fraud resources:
