|
|
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)
- ",000,000" (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)
- "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)
- "waiting for your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "abidjan" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Linda Toure <linda.toure12345@outlook.fr>
Reply-To: Linda Toure <lindatoure3@outlook.fr>
Date: Fri, 4 Aug 2017 21:45:53 +0900 (JST)
Subject: From Miss Linda Toure
Good day my dearest,
With due respect and humble submission to your personality, I am sending you this message with tears and sorrows in my heart as an orphan. My parents died mysteriously and i am the only one left in our family.
My name is Miss Linda Toure. I am 22 years old and the only daughter of my late parents. We are a native of the Northern part of Abidjan in Cote d'Ivoire. I was born and brought up here in Abidjan Cote d'Ivoire. My deceased father was a wealthy cocoa merchant here in Cote d'Ivoire. He died on the 10th of January 2017 as a result of Stroke. My mother died during the time of Cote d'Ivoire political crisis. Since after the death of my father, I have been facing alot of difficulties and humiliations from my late father's relatives. Now I have decided to move into your country where i will spend the rest of my life and have a peaceful mind.
Please I am seriously in need of your help to secure my inheritance value the sum of Six Million Dollars (US$ 6,000,000.00 DOLLARS) which my late father deposited in a prime bank here in Cote d'Ivoire before he died. I want you to assist me transfer the money to your account and accept me as part of your family. You are not going to face any difficulties or legal implications during the process of the fund transfer.
Meanwhile, i am willing to offer you 20% of the money as soon as the bank transfer the money to your account. The 20% offer is your compensation from my heart for your assistance to transfer the money to your account and accept me as part of your family.
Please help me
Waiting for your urgent response
Yours Sincerely
Miss Linda Toure
|
Anti-fraud resources:
