|
|
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:
- "million british 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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. Roger Thompson" <info.roger2013@gmail.com>
Reply-To: roger_thompson2013@yahoo.com
Date: Mon, 25 Aug 2014 22:22:09 +0800
Subject: Greetings
--
Dear Sir,
My name is Mr. Roger Thompson, I am a private business consultant for
very eminent persons in the Asian and West Africa region.They have
appointed me to source on their behalf a foreigner with whom they can
jointly entrusts reasonable amount of money, which will be channeled
into a highly lucrative business venture. I got your address through
the chamber of Commerce and industries.
The amount is £25 million (Twenty Five Million British Pounds Sterling
Only).My client request strict confidentiality due to their public
nature.They prefer to be anonymous hence i have been given the mandate
to source for someone of high business experience with very good
reputation.
Proposal in summary:My clients are top government officials in the
Asian and West African region and they want the funds to be invested
through a well-established businessman abroad who can front for them
without disclosing his identity. You will be made the beneficiary of
the funds in order to manage these funds on their behalf and you will
be awarded 20% of the total sum as your share in this deal then invest
the rest for my clients.
So if truly you are interested in proceeding, Kindly indicate by
sending a response to me for more details..
Yours Sincerely,
Mr. Roger Thompson
|
Anti-fraud resources:
