|
|
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 be for you" (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)
- "urgent assistance" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "very confidential" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "a diplomat " ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist 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: Senator Thomas <office8@vultr.com>
Reply-To: tmakono403@gmail.com
Date: Sun, 05 Nov 2017 02:22:43 +0100
Subject: Re:Parliament Of The Republic Of South Africa
--
FROM SENATOR THOMAS MAKONDO
PARLIAMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA.
Attn: Sir/Madam
VERY CONFIDENTIAL AND URGENT ASSISTANCE NEEDED
I am Senator Thomas Makondo of the republic of South Africa and
currently reside in the city of Cape Town. I
am seriously searching for someone in this part of the western world who
i can really confide on in assisting
me in carrying out a business transaction. In my department was this sum
of $4.4m dollars (Four million four
hundred thousand dollars) been abandoned by the past regime due to my
country’s tribal and interim regular
conflicts.
I have successfully been able to move this fund through a diplomat to a
well reliable security company where
it is now deposited in the city of MADRID-SPAIN.
I will really do appreciate if you can kindly assist me in receiving
this fund into your foreign account and
20% will be for you and 2% for any kind of expenses occurred during the
transaction after which i will be
travelling down to your country for the sharing and also meeting you in
person for your kind assistance.
Kindly respond through my private e-mail: makodothomas@safrica.com
Note: Please this should be strictly confidential as my personality in
government/office should be highly
protected.
Thanks for your co-operation.
SENATOR THOMAS MAKONDO (SQD).
|
Anti-fraud resources:
