|
|
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:
- "contact me immediately" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Elham Azmal" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <Elham.Azmal@mail.com>
Date: Mon, 20 Nov 2017 14:46:40 -0300
Subject: Dear Friend (Contact Us For Your Projects to be financed)
Hello Contractor,
We are now in the last quarter for the delivery of funds. More funds are discovered. Right now we have more starched out funds in various locations in Europe and Middle East. Syria and Iraq are now on rebuilding. If you are a contractor and you have a government approved contract. Fund is waiting for you. If you have serious contract across the world that needs secret funding, contact me immediately. If you have received fund from us let me know.
Contact me immediately for further details
Regards,
Elham Azmal
|
Anti-fraud resources:
