|
|
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:
- "a security company " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Johnson Mujuru <mujurujj422@gmail.com>
Reply-To: mujurujj422@yandex.com
Date: Mon, 15 Jun 2020 08:03:27 +0200
Subject: Investment Inquiry
Mujuru
Re: $10 Million Investment Inquiry on behalf of my family.
Greetings,
In view of the urgent and private nature of our intention to go into a
joint investment project with your establishment we wish and request your
kind cooperation with the fund transfer. We have in our disposal the sum of
($10 Million) deposited in a security company for safe keeping here in
South Africa by my late father General Solomon Mujuru, we wish for your
ventures cooperation in securing and investing the funds in your country
without any complications. Please get back to me at your earliest
Best regards,
Johnson Mujuru
(For the Family
|
Anti-fraud resources:
