|
|
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:
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. Subramanian Surya" <sdjob@nbsaturn.com.cn>
Reply-To: <mss243005@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 2 Apr 2017 10:11:47 +0100
Subject: Waiting for your immediate confirmation
Good day,
I am sending this mail for the second time to you and I don’t know if you received the first mail I sent to you.
I have a citizen of your country who had a fixed deposit with my bank National Bank of Abu-Dhabi since 2005 valued at US$18,300,000.00 (Eighteen Million Three Hundred United State Dollars) the due date for this deposit contract has expired and I need you to stand as the Next of Kin to the Deceased Customer
We need to talk. Please, kindly confirm if you are still using this e-mail address by responding back to me for more details.
Waiting for your immediate confirmation
Mr.Subramanian Surya
|
Anti-fraud resources:
