|
|
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)
- "% will be for you" (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)
- "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "ecowas " (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Paul Adams <pa32412@gmail.com>
Reply-To: paul-adams3@outlook.com
Date: Wed, 16 Sep 2015 17:54:19 +0100
Subject: Hello
My Dear Friend,
Compliment of the day to you, I know this will be a surprise to
receive this email from me since we've never met before. My name is
Mr. Paul Adams a banker by profession from West African Agricultural
Development bank Ghana (ADB) here in West Africa and currently
holding the post of the Bank (Chief Audit Unit) in ECOWAS STATE. I am
sending this brief letter to solicit your partnership to transfer
(US$4.600,000) into your bank account. I'll send you more information
and procedures when I receive a positive response from you and for
your information 40% of the above mentioned fund will be for you if
you agree to help me execute this deal, also 10% will be for your
expense that may incur during the process of this transaction and 50%
is for me.Please I need your urgent reply .
Best Regard,
Mr. Paul Adams.
|
Anti-fraud resources:
