|
|
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)
- "you will be entitled to 30%" (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: "Mohammad Gaddafi" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <anolfbari@libero.it>
Date: Thu, 4 Jun 2020 00:58:39 +0200
Subject: response 02/06/2020.
Dear Friend,
How are you doing today? I hope you are doing good. I am asking for your
partnership in re-profiling of my family funds. I got your contact from my
Google research. I trust my instinct and my instinct have never failed me in
the past. I am convinced that you are the person who can assist me in this
pending transaction. I am Mohammad Gaddafi, son of the killed Libyan leader
Muamar Gaddafi. My family has been in Algeria until we were recently granted
political assylum in Oman.
You will be given freedom to invest in any aspect of your countries economy.
Once I receive your email response and confirm that you are capable of
investing/managing the funds for us, I will then give you informations on
how to access the funds and how much it is. You will be entitled to 30% for
all your services.
Keep this proposal confidential,
Regards,
Mohammad.
|
Anti-fraud resources:
