|
|
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:
- "fund beneficiary" (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)
- "top secret" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: " Ms. J G" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <joangoodwill7@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 13 Mar 2016 08:52:41 +0100
Subject: Re:I Am Aware Of The Problems
Attn: Fund Beneficiary
I am a Senior staff of World Bank Regional office London-UK. I am aware of the problems which you have been going through all this while in getting a fund which was deposited here on your name. I will only want to give you more information’s about the fund if you are ready to work with me and keep every thing to your self and even to whosoever that has been assisting you in this matter.
Presently with the vital information’s I was made to understand that you are financially broke on the cause of this business which has lasted years without any profitable result .If you ignore this mail note that you have ignore the road to achieve your goal in life and all your long time suffering will totally be in vain. I will be retiring from the office very soon this more reason why I want to help you in this matter if only you will agree to give me 15% of the fund as soon as I assist you in the release of money into your home account.
Also, is not right for a banker to be involved in this such matter so please you need to promise me that you will keep it as a top secret between both of us and I will help you out in getting this money, it will sound so bad that our bank find out that am involved in this transaction and this will surely course me losing my job and going to jail. The ball is now on your court on what you think and what you want for your self in this issue, just try and see what will be the result under 48 hours of your respond.
Sincerely yours,
Ms.J G
Foreign Remittance director (World Bank)
|
Anti-fraud resources:
