|
|
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 friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "the diplomat " ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- 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.
- charlescolony@myself.com (Myself; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: Sgt Charles Colony <gemayuk@gmail.com>
Reply-To: sgtcharlescolony@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 26 Jan 2015 00:25:38 +0100
Subject: WHY ARE YOU NOT KEEPING TO YOUR WORD!
Dear Friend,
I hope you are doing very fine in good health, i wonder why you have
decided to abandon my Galvanize Box after promising to be of good
assistance, i told you earlier that diplomat will lift the box on
transit from Afghanistan to London before transiting to your country
for final handover of the box to you, and you assured me of working
with the diplomat to ensure smooth delivery unfortunately you decided
to abandon the precious galvanize box because of a mere transiting
difference that diplomat required from you to guarantee hitch-free
delivery considering the high content of the galvanize which i
declared non-inspection as personal effect belonging to US Sergeant.
I advice you to quickly communicate the diplomat to know if he has
succeeded in shipping the galvanize box directly to your country as he
promised, quickly communicate the diplomat via his official email
bellow and update me;
Dip. In-sun Kim
dip.kim@outlook.com
UN Accredited Diplomat.
I await your positive update before joining my team on the village
shootout and i pray that God will protect my life because military
assignment is very hazardous.
Your beloved brother,
Sergeant Charles Colony
75th Fire Brigade PAO stationed in Kabul
CharlesColony@myself.com
|
Anti-fraud resources:
