|
|
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)
- "ecowas " (the name of a person or institution often appearing 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: Diplomat Michael Krop <"www."@peach.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: Diplomat Michael Krop <officenote@yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 16 Nov 2017 01:09:35 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Please confirm to me if you are available to receive your fund
I hope you are very fine?
Please I want to let you know that I am on my way to your house to deliver your $ 2.5 million dollars inheritance compensation fund, which was recovered by ECOWAS together with the United State Embassy in Benin Republic, so I want to ensure that I complete the delivery of the fund to you immediately today and return back to my office because I have some other vital issues to handle at the office.
Honestly I really need to ensure I complete the delivery of the fund to you immediately today as mandated by the authorities.
Please you need to reply back to me right away and confirm to me if you are at home right now, so I can proceed immediately and ensure I deliver the fund directly to you as soon as I arrive your place. Please reply back to me right away so we can avoid any wrong delivery.
Await your feedback right away and you can also reach me + 1 (616) 266-7234
Warmest Regard
Diplomat Michael Krop
Tel: + 1 (616) 266-7234
|
Anti-fraud resources: