|
|
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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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)
- "utmost confidentiality" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- 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.
- mrslouisabenicio@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs.Louisa Benicio" <mrslouisabeni@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 19 Feb 2018 13:28:10 +0000
Subject: Waiting for your Urgent Responds,
My Sincere Greetings,
I am (Mrs.Louisa Benicio) I have decided to donate ($5.5million
Dollars) to you / Motherless babies/ less privileged/ Churches/ Widows
from what I have inherited from my late Husband because I am
diagnosing of throat Cancer and hospitalize for 2 years and some
months now.
I will appreciate your utmost confidentiality and trust in this matter
to accomplish my heart desire, as I don’t want anything that will
jeopardize my last wish. As soon you get back to me, I shall give you
my info which you will use to contact the bank by quoting my personal
file routing and account information. I know I don't know you but all
is by the Grace of God Almighty, I found your email address through
random search from internet and I decided to contact you.
I am presently sending you this email seeking your assistance in
helping me set up a charity organization in your country by your names
which would be in existence long after am gone out of this world. I
will be going in for a surgery soon and I want to make sure that I
make this donation before undergoing my surgery.
Please if you would be able to use the funds for the work of humanity
as I have stated hear to fulfilled my late husband wishes kindly
reply back to me through this email address
(mrslouisabenicio@yahoo.com) for more details.
Waiting for your Urgent Responds,
Yours Sincerely.
Mrs.Louisa Benicio.
|
Anti-fraud resources:
