|
|
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:
- "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- "million pounds" (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)
- "barr." (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "@lawyer.com" (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.
- Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
- 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.
- barr.msrivastava@lawyer.com (Outblaze.com, Hong Kong; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: Srivastava Manishi <stanleyam014@gmail.com>
Reply-To: snezhbosh@gmail.com
Date: Fri, 27 Jun 2014 06:43:50 -0700
Subject: Re: More Details
Dear Sir/Madam,
Hope you and your blessed family are living fine? I am a legal
practitioner base in South Wales, my client is a prominent politician
from Ukraine; we are in search of foreign investor that will
professionally handle his investment outside Ukraine. The political
crisis in Ukraine has affected businesses of various types having
investors divert their business outside the nation. I will legalize
the memorandum of understanding for this investment under the British
Investment Law. My client was able the raise the sum of £3.5 million
pounds sterling, it is agreed that you will invest the funds into
profitable business opportunities in your area.
I await your reply with your complete details to my e-mail as stated
bellow for the preparation of investment partnership MOU.
Respectively,
Srivastava Manishi Esq
Urban Village, High Street
Swansea SA1 1NW
South Wales
barr.msrivastava@lawyer.com
|
Anti-fraud resources:
