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joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
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"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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "hundred thousand united state 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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "abidjan" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- This email message is a orphan 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.
- lilian.thompson@hotmail.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: =?utf-8?B?TGlsaWFuIFRob21wc29t?=<lilian_thompsom@naver.com>
Date: Sat, 01 Jul 2017 16:26:08 +0900
Subject: =?utf-8?B?SGVsbG8gRGVhcg==?=
Hello Dear
Permit me to inform you of my desire of going into business relationship with you.
I got your contact and I prayed over it and selected your name among other names due to its esteeming nature and the recommendations given to me as a reputable and trust worthy person that I can confid on and by the this recommendation I must not hesitate to confide in you for this legal, truethful and Godly relationship .
My mother died when I was a baby and since then my father took me so special. Before the death of my father on july 28 2015 in a private hospital here in Abidjan he secretly called me on his bed side and told me that he has the sum of six million three hundred thousand United State Dollars. US($6.3M)
left in fixed / suspense account in one of the international bank here in Abidjan ,he used my name as his only dauther for the next of Kin in depositing of the fund.
My late father Instrcucted me to seek for a foreign partner in a country of my choice where I will transfer this money and use it for investment purpose such as real estate management or hotel management .
DearI am honourably seeking your assistance in the following ways:
(1) To provide a bank account inwhich this money would be transferred to .
(2) To serve as my guardian and of this fund since I am only 20years.
(3) To make arrangement for me to come over to your country to further my education.
Note: I am willing to offer you 15% of the total sum as compensation for your effort/ input after the successful transfer of this fund to your nominate bank account.
please make sure that you write me to this email lilian.thompson@hotmail.fr
Anticipating to hear from you soon.
Thanks and God bless.
Best regards,
Lilian Thompson
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