|
|
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)
- "await your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- 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.
- mrskoffi220@aol.com (AOL; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK <mrskoffi@afdb.org>
Reply-To: <mrskoffi_info@anpa.de>
Date: Sun, 13 Sep 2020 10:45:54 -0700
Subject: MY DEAR FRIEND PLEASE I NEED YOUR ASSISTANCE r 91
Hello Dear Friend
PLEASE I NEED YOUR ASSISTANCE
Am Mrs Koffi Jacques Director Foreign Acct Dept
I have the sum of $17.5M United States Dollars unclaimed fund in my bank To be transfer to your account
please if interested kindly contact me via this mrskoffi220@aol.com for more details
with your information, address, and your contact phone numbers
please note is strictly confidential
Await your urgent response
Yours Sincerely
Mrs Koffi Jacques
Director Foreign Acct Dept
African Development Bank
www.afdb.org
________________________________
This e-mail and any attachments contain privileged and confidential information intended only for the use of the addressee(s).
If you are not an intended recipient of this e-mail, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, copying or use of information within it is strictly prohibited. If you received this e-mail in error or without authorisation, please notify us immediately by reply e-mail and delete the e-mail from your system. If you need any further assistance, please send a message to info@skolkovo.ru.
|
Anti-fraud resources:
