|
|
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:
- "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.
- cl1028020@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs. Joy Maria" <info@live.com>
Reply-To: cl1028020@gmail.com
Date: Wed, 06 Jul 2022 17:05:29 +0800
Subject: Re: Good Day
Attention
This is to inform you officially that your email address was shortlisted by the Ford Motors Inc/GLOBAL CITIZEN IMPACT FUNDS AND COVID19 Solidarity Response Fund Commission, in collaboration with the World Health Organization through the United Nations setup to compensate the entire victims of scam/fraud and for those who lost their properties/businesses during the crisis.
However, it was agreed by the commission to compensate you with the sum of One Million Dollars in order to boost your standard of living.
You are hereby advised to send the following information below to the payment master-general for further proceedings.
1. Full Name:
2. Home address:
3. Direct/personal cell number
4. A copy of any governmental issued identification
5. Your occupation
Below is the payment master-general detail:
NAME: Mr. Charlie Lewis
E-MAIL: cl1028020@gmail.com
In view of the foregoing, One Million Dollars has been earmarked for each beneficiary consisting of Eighty Thousand people via The Google email platform where your email id was chosen. Payment is made either through The Automated Teller Machine (Debit Card) or an International Bank Draft , you are at liberty to make the best option suitable to you.
Yours truly,
Mrs. Joy Maria.
Secretary
https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/
|
Anti-fraud resources:
