|
|
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.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "transfer of your funds" (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)
- "million dollars" (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.
- 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.
- richardandy83@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "FEDERAL MINISTRY OF FINANACE" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <saedsanni@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 14 Jul 2015 20:51:45 -0800
Subject: THE TRUTH ABOUT YOUR FUNDS
HELLO
Am Richard Andy
The nigeria miniser of finance
Phone number: +23408178195104
phone number: +23409029787037
email address: richardandy83@gmail.com
This is to let you know that the corrupt officials in Nigeria who you have been sending money to has been arrested so therefore the federal government of Nigeria has agreed to give you $2.5 million dollars for all your loss and troubles as we sincerely apologise for all the pains caused by those impostors.Now, the federal ministry of finance is ready to pay you the mentioned amount of dollars ($2.5 million)you are only to pay $145 for the release of your fund from the federal ministry of finance, Now if you are ready to receive this fund all you have to do is to can the below details now for quick transfer of your funds in less than 24 hours.
NOTE THE $145 IS FOR TRANSFER CHARGE TO YOUR ACCOUNT
1 Your Full Name
2 Phone Number
3 Occupation
4 Bank Name and Account Number.
Waiting,
Best Regards
Sanni Saed
|
Anti-fraud resources:
