|
|
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.
- This email message is a "New Partner from Paraguay" scam.
- 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.
- smart_favour@rediffmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: REV BENSON WOOD <fbi_o2013@yahoo.fr>
Reply-To: REV BENSON WOOD <smart_favour@rediffmail.com>
Date: Fri, 10 Jul 2015 12:43:19 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: Your Compensation !!!!!!!
Hello My Dear Beloved Friend,
I'm happy to inform you about my success in getting those funds transferred under the co operation of a new business partner from Paraguay. Presently I'm in Paraguay for treatment and investment but meanwhile, I didn't forget your past efforts and attempts to assist me in transferring those funds despite that it failed us some how and I have left your compensation fund in a VISA ATM Card with my Secretary in Benin Republic.
Now contact my secretary in Benin his name is Mr Smart Favour , Email: smart_favour@rediffmail.com (Tel:+ 229 97 031 337) Ask him to send you the VISA ATM Card containing the total of €800.000.00 Euro which I kept for your compensation for all your past efforts and attempts to assist me in this matter.
I appreciated your efforts at that time very much. so feel free and get in touch with my secretary Mr Smart Favour and instruct him where to send the VISA ATM Card containing the total of €800.000.00 Euro to you without any delay, Remember that I had forwarded instruction to Him on your behalf.
My Best Regards,
Rev Benson Wood.
|
Anti-fraud resources:
