|
|
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:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "hundred thousand united state 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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Elizabeth Wattrelos <elizabethwattrelos@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 18 Mar 2022 12:09:02 -0700
Subject: Hello Dear.
Hello Dear.
I am Elizabeth Wattrelos; I am a UK citizen and also reside in London.
I am a 77 years old woman suffering from Leukemia. My late husband Dr.
Ambre Wattrelos was a French citizen, He died in a plane crash on 8
March 2014 while flying from Kuala Lumpur International Airport to
Beijing International Airport on a Boeing 777-200ER aircraft with our
two children Hadrien Wattrelos and Laurence Wattrelos.
https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/1063617-malaysia-airlines-flight-mh370-passenger-list
My health has gotten worse and just two weeks ago my doctor informed
me that my condition has reached a critical stage, and that I have
just 3 months left. This confirmation from my doctor has remained
devastating news to me; I decided to share all I have inherited from
my husband to the poor and less privileged in society because we have
no any other family member to inherit our wealth.
My late husband was very wealthy and I inherited all his businesses
and wealth, I have made lots of donations to several countries. It is
my wish to make my last donation through you after going through your
profile. I wish to donate the sum of Three million six hundred
thousand United State Dollars (US$3,600,000.00) to the less privileged
and for the construction of an orphanage home in your country.
Lastly, I honestly pray that this money when transferred to you will
be used for the said purpose even though I might be late then. I have
come to find out that wealth is vanity and I made a promise to God
that my wealth will be used to support the poor and assist the sick.
Do let me know if you will be able to handle this fund and use it for
the said purpose so that I will inform my attorney and my bank on my
decision.
Elizabeth Wattrelos.
|
Anti-fraud resources:
