|
|
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:
- "utmost confidentiality" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "fgnjhugd30@daum.net" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: PIZOL CONTABILIDADE <pizol@veloxmail.com.br>
Reply-To: PIZOL CONTABILIDADE <fgnjhugd30@daum.net>
Date: Tue, 17 Jun 2014 21:06:31 -0300 (BRT)
Subject: Hello
Hello,
I am a woman from Australian who has decided to donate what I have for
humanitarian investment. I was diagnosed for breast cancer for about 2
years now. I have been touched by God to donate from what I have
inherited from my late husband to you for humanitarian investment. I
found your email address on the internet and I decided to contact you
for this investment. My late husband was a Korean.
I will be going in for surgery soon and I want to make this donation
before undergoing my surgery. I want you to help the motherless and
less privilege and for the assistance of the widows and unfortunate
mothers. My late husband's evil relatives want to take away my
inheritance and use it ungodly.
Please, I want you to invest the fund well and always extend the good
work to others. I don't know you, but I have been directed by God to
contact you for this project. I will appreciate your utmost
confidentiality in this matter until the task is accomplished.
Reply me through my private email so that we will discuss in details
(fgnjhugd30@daum.net)
Regards,
Mrs. Lee.
|
Anti-fraud resources:
