|
|
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:
- "inheritance funds" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "power of attorney" (with your bank details and a power of attorney form criminals sometimes empty bank accounts)
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
- Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
Fraud email example:
From: OLiver Zipper <johnonyedika4@gmail.com>
Reply-To: oliverzipper122@gmail.com
Date: Thu, 21 Oct 2021 02:26:34 +0100
Subject: urgent respond needed from you
Hello
Are you Alive or Dead? We
welcomed one Mr. Richard
Seibert and his colleagues
whom claimed to us that they re
your business partners and
said that you're dead after a
brief illness and before death
that you gave him the power of
attorney to represent you and
receive your inheritance funds
from the Epean Central Bank/
IMF worth bS$9.9million and
he provided a bank account for
the remittance of the money
immediately to help in doing your
burial arrangements.
Respond to us if you're alive or
we will remit the US9.9million to
him as your next of kin to help in
your hurial arranaement.
Respond to us if you're alive or
we will remit the US9.9million to
him as your next of kin to help in
your burial arrangement.
Regards
Mr OLiver Zipper
IMF delivery agent
|
Anti-fraud resources:
