|
|
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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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)
- "million dollars" (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.
- 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.
- alfagroup.fridman1964@bk.ru (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Mikhail Maratovich <evelincooperimf@gmail.com>
Reply-To: mikhail.helpinghandsfoundation@mail.ru
Date: Tue, 17 Aug 2021 04:57:21 -0700
Subject: DONATION
Dear Friend,
This is to inform you that I Mr. Mikhail Fridman a Russian business
mogul have selected you specifically as one of my beneficiaries for my
Charitable Donation of $5 Million dollars as part of my palliatives
for COVID 19 and humanitarian mission in your Country just as I have
declared on 20th of May 2016 to give my fortune to charity. I believe
my little donation will enable you to extend helping hands to the less
privileged, motherless homes and to the poor people who live in the
isolated areas of your community. For further details and confirmation
click the link below.
https://www.rt.com/business/343781-mikhail-fridman-will-charity/
I await your earliest response for further directives. Kindly reply to
my personal email address: alfagroup.fridman1964@bk.ru
Best Regards!
Sir. Mikhail Fridman
CEO Alfa Group.
CEO BK Nuts and Beverages Russia
CEO Alfa Bank Russia’s largest private commercial bank
CEO X5 Retail Group and supermarkets Russia
CEO A1 TV Channel and the LetterOne investment holding
|
Anti-fraud resources:
