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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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:
- "mtcn" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "million us 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)
- "your urgent reply" (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.
- This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- larryernest388@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: LARRY ERNEST <"WWW."@sand.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: LARRY ERNEST <larryernest388@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 8 Feb 2018 19:12:35 +0900 (JST)
Subject: YOUR URGENT REPLY IS NEEDED!
YOUR URGENT REPLY IS NEEDED!!
We are here to inform you that your inheritance compensation fund worth $5.2million us dollars is now ready to be transferred to you after long delay. And we apologize for the inconvenience of being unable to send it on time.
So, you are giving 24hrs starting from now to re-confirm your full information to us to help process the necessary documents covering your transactions. And once it is done you will start receiving $5,000 us dollars per week via MTCN number until the total amount of $5.2million us dollars is being completed. And also, you are in the right possession to choose among these out listed means of transfer that will be convenient to you if by sending MTCN number does not suit you.
DHL, FAX, ATM VISA CARD, CHEAGUE.
Below are the re-confirmation details:
Full name…….Country:
City………Occupation:
Sex………Marital status:
Best regards
larry ernest
larryernest388@gmail.com
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