|
|
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:
- "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- "money laundering" ("anti-terrorist", "anti-money laundering" or "drug-free" certificates are a common way for criminals in fake lottery scams and other Advance Fee scams to get you to send money to them. There are no such certificates in the real banking world. )
- 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.
- info-fundremitancedepartment@email.com (Email; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: susan smith <smith05643@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 9 Feb 2023 13:25:02 +0200
Subject: PERUSAL
Dear sir/madam
My name is Mrs. Susan Smith and I am the chief account officer in a
prominent bank in South Africa. I am seeking your consent in a mutual
business relationship. There is a prominent businessman who is one of our
bank's big customers here in South Africa. Their names are Atul and Rajesh;
they left South Africa due to the accusations of the South African
government placed on them as state capture.
Below is the Website this will make it easier for you to understand, do go
through it before accepting my business proposal:
https://globalvoices.org/2022/12/07/state-capture-in-south-africa-by-the-gupta-family-a-lesson-on-political-influence/
Before my clients left the country an amount of US$10.700, 000.00 (Ten
Million Seven Hundred Thousand Dollars) was deposited in my bank .I
therefore had investigations take place. I then discovered that the
depositor did not declare any next of kin or relations in all their
official documents. I also found out that my ex-clients will not be coming
back to this country and they have no means of accessing their accounts.
I will try to get all the relevant documents that will enable me to put you
as the rightful beneficiary of the fund to enable you claim it
successfully. All underground works regarding this claim have been put in
place before contacting you. This transaction is legal because as all
relevant legal paper works to cover up this claim will be obtained in your
names as the rightful beneficially. This is risk free and does not relate
to money Laundering or Drug money. I will take 40% and 10% will be mapped
out for any expenses this transaction incurred during the conclusion and
the remaining 40% will be given to you once the funds are confirmed in
your designated bank account.
If you are interested in this proposal please do respond to the email below
but if you are not just ignore the letter.
Name: John Powell’s (info-fundremitancedepartment@email.com)
I will give you more details as soon as I hear back from you.
Regards
Mrs. Susan Smith
|
Anti-fraud resources:
