|
|
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:
- "inheritance funds" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "confidential business" (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.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr auditor" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <auditor2010@shareholderlawsuitscenter.com>
Date: Fri, 14 Dec 2018 22:02:13 -0800
Subject: contact me as soon as you receive it
Dear .Friend
I 'm a bank auditor from a private banking, I have a confidential business for you and a personal interest of joint investment in your
country. I have the privilege to channel a left over funds to your account as inheritance funds, The said funds belongs to one of our
deceased foreign customer who died along with his entire family on a hijacked boeing 767 that killed 239 on board.
For more information read through the link below.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/us-stunned-by-latest-air-crash-1120123.html
i contacted you because your name bear the same surname name with the deceased customer in our bank which makes it very easy to
claim his left over funds. i will supply to you more additional information my bank may need to approve to the funds to you as inheritance
fund.
Regards.
Mr auditor
alternatively email: adm_auditor@shareholderlawsuitscenter.com
|
Anti-fraud resources:
