|
|
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:
- "will come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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: Philomena Sukma <philomenasukma1@gmail.com>
Reply-To: Philomena Sukma <philomenasukma@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 12 Aug 2017 19:04:19 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Hello dear
Hello dear
I am well aware that my message will come to you as a surprise because we do not know or meet before, but I humble myself and take this opportunity to express myself. Please take me your daughter or your sister, I am really dedicated to meet you. My name is Mrs. Philomena Kenneth Abidjan Ivory Coast.
I am 20 years old orphan girl due to sudden death of father. Please, I am contacting you for assistance for my money being transferred to your bank account of your choice in your country to go to your country and continue my studies and get parental care and teacher you inherited.
I am willing to offer you 20% of the money as compensation to encourage them to help me. I am eagerly waiting for your urgent response for me to give you more information about me and the background, to enable us to pay and transfer money to your bank account as I wished.
Waiting for your reply.
May God bless us and guide us Amen
Suya Filomena.
|
Anti-fraud resources:
