|
|
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:
- "trunk box" (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.
Fraud email example:
From: =?UTF-8?Q?G=C3=B6khan_Burcu?= <alhassansomed21@gmail.com>
Reply-To: gokhanburcu2885@gmail.com
Date: Sat, 9 Oct 2021 18:22:33 +0530
Subject:
Hello Dear!
I am glad that I have met a person like you who I can trust for this my
last project on earth. I want you to hear me well. My late husband died 7
years ago and we have lived for 32 years without kids here in Turkey but
he is a native of America and he works as minister of health here in
Turkey. Before he died we both had plans of establishing a charity
organization for the benefit of the less privileged and poor in the
society. For this reason we deposited a life valuable trunk box with the
security company here in Turkey and this trunk box contains (€5.5 Million
Euro) but it was deposited as our family life valuables which the security
company does not know the full content in the trunk box. Since we have no
kids and his family wants me dead I decided to seek for an honest person
who can help me execute this my last dream on earth. Right now I am
seriously sick from chronic cancer. My doctor said I cannot last for more
than 2 months. That is why I need you to assist me on this my last project
on earth. Since 3 weeks ago I was unable to speak or walk and that is why I
need your assistance and I promise you will benefit from this project at
last. I want this money that is deposited with the security company to be
used in opening a charity organization with my name for the benefit of the
less privileged because it's my most priority and so that even if I die I
will be happy in my grave that my wealth is well used by you. Please, get
back to me so that I can give you more detail about this project and what
you can do to assist and guide me. Hope to hear from you
Greetings
Gökhan Burcu
|
Anti-fraud resources:
