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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:
- "hundred thousand united states 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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "high court" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "sales@goodwaterwarehouse.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
- 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.
- perryedwards00@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. Perry Edwards" <test@reg.com>
Reply-To: perryedwards00@yahoo.com
Date: 23 Aug 2019 09:45:09 -0700
Subject: Attention sales@goodwaterwarehouse.com
Dear sales@goodwaterwarehouse.com,
THIS IS FOR YOUR ATTENTION.
I wish to notify you that you are the beneficiary to the total
sum of $10,600,000.00 Million (Ten Million Six Hundred Thousand
United States Dollars). This is the sum deposited by my late
client with the bank months before his eventual and unexpected
dismiss.
I am contacting you because you bear the surname identity and I
can therefore present you as the beneficiary to the inheritance.
I have no iota of doubt that you could receive these funds as you
are qualified by your name identity. All the legal papers will be
processed in your acceptance.
In your acceptance of this deal, we request that you kindly
forward to us your letter of acceptance; your current telephone
and fax numbers and a forwarding address to enable us file
necessary documents at our high court probate division for the
release of this sum of money.
Please contact me on this address: perryedwards00@yahoo.com for
further details.
Yours Faithfully,
Mr. Perry Edwards.
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