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joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
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"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:
- "hundred thousand great british pounds" (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)
- "confidential business" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "chief auditor" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
Fraud email example:
From: Mrs Wand Smith <federaministryoffinance122@googlemail.com>
Reply-To: readmymindwithfaith1@rediff.com
Date: Tue, 10 Aug 2021 01:21:52 +0100
Subject: PLEASE I NEED YOUR ASSISTANCE !!!
Dear Trusted one,
This is an important and confidential business proposal I am bringing
to you ,My name is Mrs. Wand Smith I believe you to be a very honest
and trustworthy person. I searched and found your profile from the
Internet and also decided to contact you.
I am a banker by profession and currently holding the post of Chief
Auditor in our Bank having the opportunity of transferring this
unclaimed fund (£10.5M) Ten Million Five Hundred Thousand Great
British Pounds belonging to one of our late clients that we discovered
that died six months ago of Corona Virus pandemic.
Having no one coming up to lay claim on his funds as his Next of Kin
till now and if this fund is left unclaimed it will be transferred to
the government treasury by the bank. Hence, I am inviting you for a
business deal where we can facilitate the transfer of this fund and
have promised 50% as your percentage once we are through, If you agree
to my business proposal send your full data as below required to
enable proceed to the next stage.
(1) Your full names: ===
(2) Personal or official contact address: ====
(3) Home or Office phone#:==Cell phone#:===Fax#:===
(4) Your Age: ===
(5) Occupation: ===
(6) Marital status: ===
(7) Sex: ===
Further details of the transfer will be forwarded to you.
Yours Faithfully,
Mrs. Wand Smith
Email: readmymindwithfaith1@rediff.com
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Anti-fraud resources: