|
|
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:
- "huge sum of money" (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 next of kin scam.
Fraud email example:
From: "Xiankai Lu" <admin@webscraping.pro>
Reply-To: xiankai1990lu@gmail.com
Date: Fri, 18 Dec 2020 15:04:52 -0800
Subject: FROM XIANXAI LU
I got your email from google search engine as i was searching for whom can help me receive this fund.
Before the U.S and Iraqi war our client a business merchant made a fixed deposit of huge sum of money for 3Yrs where i was the only one that knew about his deposits. Upon maturity during the war in 2003,my client,his wife and only daughter died in a bomb blast that hits his Residence. Investigations showed that he didnt declear any next of kin. As a foreigner, I want you to stand as the next of kin to claim the fund for us because soon the fund will be claimed by my government if no one comes for it.The fund is in my bank and i am the Manager so, when my lawyer applies for the fund to be released to you as the beneficiary, it would be approved with my influence without any hitches. I have already paid my Attorney to make everything very legal and for the transfer of the fund to legally go through all international banking laws. Please do get back showing interest if you can handle this transaction with me.
Waiting to hearing from you for more details to proceed.
Regard
Xiankai Lu
|
Anti-fraud resources:
