|
|
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:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "there is no risk involved" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Michael Iwobi <michaeliwobi2013@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 06 Nov 2017 02:00:35 -0700
Subject: hello dear
hello dear,
I am a director in the Nigerian Federal Ministry Of Petroleum and
Natural resources.
There is a contract fund in my ministry which has remained unclaimed for
years and after series of investigations we found out that the fund
claim was an inflated contract payment and the relevant documents to
claim it legally was missing hence the transfer of the fund was
suspended indefinitely by the federal government pending when all
necessary legal papers or documents covering the fund are provided by
beneficiary of the fund.
Therefore,If you are interested to work with me then i want you to come
forward and claim this fund as as the true beneficiary and we shall
share the fund accordingly.with my position and your
cooperation/understanding all the legal documents backing the fund in
your name/address as the true beneficiary shall be legally obtained and
documented for transfer and the transfer of the fund shall take place
immediately.
Please,note that there is no risk involved as long as you are able to
keep everything to yourself only and maintain absolute confidentiality
now and after you have received the fund.
Yours Sincerely,
Mr.Michael Iwobi
|
Anti-fraud resources:
