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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:
- "a security company " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "trunk box" (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)
- "consignment " (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)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: VERY IMPORTANT AND URGENT <houndjadossaantoine@gmail.com>
Reply-To: kadiusman656@gmail.com
Date: Thu, 22 Sep 2022 04:59:13 -0700
Subject: God Bless You!
I am Mrs. Kadi Usman. from Cote D'Ivoire. I was married to Dr. Adams
Ibrahim Usman who was a contractor with the government of Cote D'Ivoire
(Ivory Coast) before he died after few days in the hospital.
When my late husband was Alive disclosed to me secretly that he deposited
sum of (US$4.5 Million) with one of the safe Security Companies in Benin
Republic.Cotonou.(Benin Republic) Presently this money is still in the
custody of the Security Companies here in Benin Republic (Cotonou)
This money which is Trunk Box is deposited with a security company under a
secret arrangement as a family, valuables. And the document concerning the
box was handed over to me by my late husband before his death, Presently
this Trunk Box is still in the custody of the company, and the Money in
consignment was willed in favor of my Son Ahmed and myself as next of kin
for the deposit.
Am presently in a hospital where I have been undergoing treatment Cancer
and my doctor have said that I have limited months to live that is why i am
seeking for your assistance, Your suggestions and ideas will be highly
appreciated. Please, Consider this and get back to me as soon as possible.
I will give you the details and the information of the Security Company.
God Bless You!
Mrs. Kadi Usman.
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