|
|
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.
- 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:
- "here in united kingdom" (this email uses bad English)
- "my names are " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- 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.
- mrstevewyer@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. Steven Wyer" <friday@thomasforme.fatcow.com>
Reply-To: mrstevewyer@gmail.com
Date: Fri, 14 Feb 2020 08:26:45 -0500
Subject: INVESTMENT/PARTNERSHIP
--
GREETINGS,
PARTNERSHIP!!!
My names are Mr. Steven Wyer, former credit manager of SNS Bank
(www.snsbank.nl) Netherlands Branch. Presently working with Capital One
Bank here in United Kingdom.
I have a proposal to discuss with you on a certain Bonded account in our
bank with a huge available credit balance of 12.5 Million USD. I'm led to
contact you due to you share same family name as what is on the Bonded
account and so I'm thinking I can work something out with you on this that
will be of immense benefit to both of us if you are willing to work with
me so we have the Bank transfer the available credit balance on the Bonded
Account to you as the inheritor/beneficiary.
Please contact me through email on this for indept details.
Regards,
Mr. Steven Wyer.
N/B Please contact me through my private Email; mrstevewyer@gmail.com
|
Anti-fraud resources:
