|
|
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 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)
- "hundred thousand united states 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.
Fraud email example:
From: Mrs Lucy Benson <mrslucybenson@gmail.com>
Reply-To: Mrs Lucy Benson <lucy1benso@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Fri, 25 Sep 2015 21:04:35 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Greetings
Beloved
With
Due Respect And Humanity, I was compelled to write to you under a
humanitarian ground ,I am Mrs. Lucy Benson. 51yrs old widow from Greece,
my husband and I worked with Tallow oil Cote d Ivoire before he died
seven years ago, I am writing you this message via a computer lap top on
my sick bed at the hospital were I am undergoing medical treatment I
have been diagnosed of Endometrial cancer unfortunately for me, my
doctor said I don't have any chance to survive except by a miracle I
have spent a lot of money on medical treatment yet no improvement.
The
reason why I am writing you this letter is because I want
you to stand as beneficiary to the sum of my $3.5Million (Three million
five hundred thousand united states dollars) I don't have any
biological child of my own who will inherit
this Fund neither do I have any adopted child My relatives and friends
have plundered so much of my wealth since my illness and I cannot live
with the agony of entrusting this huge responsibility to any of them
anymore.
I want to donate this Money to support churches and
evangelism I also want to help children and orphanages in your country
Donating this $3.5Million dollars as charity is the only legacy I can
leave behind after my death, help me to fulfill this goal before I die
and please always remember to pray for me when i die my soul will rest
in peace.
Expecting your urgent response.
Best regards
Mrs.Lucy Benson.
|
Anti-fraud resources:
