|
|
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)
- "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 next of kin scam.
- 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.
- bonatouch1234@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: Bona Touch <alimughal909@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: Bona Touch <bonatouch1234@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 20 Aug 2016 13:59:56 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: l have a proposal
Dear Friend ,
I am contacting you based on trust, honest and confidentiality that you will keep this as top secret and if interested should write to me . There is an unclaimed Fund &Money of our late customer who died in crash according to information in our office. The money is being held under a non-investment account.
If you are interested to stand as the next of kin to my late client and will present you as the next of kin to claim the fund before the period given by the financial firm expire. I am assuring you of 100% risk free and legitimate project . I will explain in details when I hear from you.
Expecting your early reply: bonatouch1234@gmail.com
Best regard
Bona Touch
|
Anti-fraud resources:
