|
|
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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "your country for safe keeping" (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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Alhaji Mohammad <puieugo@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: Alhaji Mohammad <alhajimohammade@ymail.com>
Date: Wed, 5 Dec 2018 23:33:14 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: Assalaamualaikum
Dear Friend,
How are you today ? I know you will be surprise on how i got your email. I got it from email directory when i was searching for someone to assist me.Then i decided to contact only you. My name is AL-Mohamed from Syria the owner of Al Furat Petroleum Company.I seriously need your assistant.We are fighting war in Syria now. All banks and companies has closed because the war is too much. Before the banks closed i withdrew all my company money from the bank. The money is Eight million five hundred thousand dollars. I can you help me to receive the money in your country for safe keeping and investment? All i need is your trust. I can send the money out from Syria through Red cross international delivery which is the only way to send money out from Syria now. I don't want my money to lost that's why i decided to send the money out. I have agreed to offer you 10% from the total money you will receive. If you are capable to assist me reply immediately.
Thanks,
AL-Mohamed
|
Anti-fraud resources: