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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:
- "waiting for your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: =?UTF-8?B?VVNBZsO8ciBFdXJvcMOkaXNjaGVz?= <ebonyadaku@gmail.com>
Reply-To: USAfroEuropean@hotmail.com
Date: Tue, 15 Feb 2022 11:01:59 +0100
Subject: Hi
This email is sent to you for security reasons.
and our recent records show that you are entitled to
receive an optional refund from Seven Hundred and Fifty
Thousands of US dollars in the Apex bank registered under yours
The name and email account found were yours unclaimed
Inheritance / profit / (money owed to you) is waiting for one
Undemanding transfer.
In light of this development, your advice goes to us with yours.
Full legal name .....................
Direct phone .................................
And postal address ..................................
for your possible consideration so that we can process the transfer
can locate you immediately
Thank you and waiting for your urgent response
Sincerely,
Mr. Peter GABRIEL .
Section / Help
USA For European Debt Reconciliation Office
ID 447 UK-London
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Anti-fraud resources: