|
|
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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "will come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "million united states 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)
- "urgent assistance" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "transaction is risk free" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Mohammad Ahmed <mohammadahmed20558@gmail.com>
Reply-To: mohammadahmed7760@gmail.com
Date: Wed, 20 Jul 2022 04:27:24 -0700
Subject: GOOD DAY, PLEASE CAN I TRUST YOU?
My Dear Friend.
Greetings.
I know this message will come to you as a surprise; my name is Mr.
Mohammad Ahmed a banker working with Bank of Africa Burkina Faso West
Africa as their Auditing Manager, Please i need your urgent assistance
to transfer an abandoned sum of $13.5 Million United States Dollars
into your account.
My dear if my proposal interest you do not hesitate to get back to me
for us to proceed with the transaction for mutual benefit because I
know the source of the fund.
You will provide account for transfer of the fund in your favor and
once you confirm the fund transferred into your account 50% is for you
and 50% for me. The transaction is risk free and there will be no
problem, I will like you to respond back to me immediately after
reading this message to enable us proceed ahead for mutual benefit and
I assure you of receiving the fund into your account without any
problem.
I will send you more details on how the fund will be officially
release and transfer in your account for the transaction will be
execute in your favor for the only thing i need from you is to be
honest with me during the transaction official process.
I am looking forward to have your urgent response along with your
personal information required bellow for more trust and confident.
1. Full name:.........
2. Home Address:.........
3. Phone.............
4. Occupation:.............
5. Age:............
6. Country:........
7. Sex........
8. Your Passport or ID card or Driving License
Thanks.
Yours faithfully
Mr. Mohammad Ahmed.
|
Anti-fraud resources:
