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joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
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"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:
- "the consignment" (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)
- "god fearing " (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Benjamin Bongo" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <bb496853@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 27 Dec 2017 03:43:07 -0500
Subject: REGood Day Dear
Hello Dear
I am Benjamin Bongo from Gabon
My Parents died in during the war crise in my count
My late father of blessed memory deposited the sum of (US$30, 000, 000. 00) togethere with some golds what of 280KG in one of the leading financial firm with my name as the next of kin. The money which my late father stated in the agreement to release to me when I am at the age 30 years old I will be in the position of the funds but now i am only 26.
Please I will forward to you the contact information of the financial firm where my father deposited the money and with some of documents for your confirmation in your acceptance to help me for the transfer of my money to your country As you will help me in the investment as your adopted son,
I want to inform you that after the transaction you will help me to prepare my traveling documents and air ticket to come over to meet with you as your son and be with you. As we will invest the fund, or if you don't intend staying with me then it will be my pleasure to compensate you with 50% of the total fund and Gold for your help This is the reason why I decided to contact you.
I have informed the financial firm all about my plans to claim this money and the only thing they told me is to look for a foreign partner who will stand on my behalf due to my age and they said that you must come down to Ghana were the fund was deposited to sign as my partiner then they will releasae the consignments to you immediatly that is the reason am looking for a God fearing person like you that will stand for me.
Best Regards
Benjamin
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