|
|
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:
- "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)
- "contact me immediately" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "diplomatic agent" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist 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: "Mrs. Jill Biden" <fbi31981@gmail.com>
Reply-To: mrsjillbiden280@gmail.com
Date: Fri, 31 Mar 2023 14:01:36 -0700
Subject: MRS. JILL BIDEN
HELLO MRS. Jill Biden,
YOUR ATM CARD WORTH $80 MILLION DOLLARS IS READY TO BE DELIVERED TO
YOUR RESIDENTIAL ADDRESS BECAUSE AFTER OUR OFFICE LEDGE CHECK UP IT'S
CLEAR THAT YOU HAVEN'T RECEIVED IT BUT IT MIGHT BE THAT YOU HAVE SPENT
A LOT OF MONEY IN THE PROCESS OF THE DELIVERY BY DIPLOMATIC AGENT OR
DELIVERY COMPANY DO CONTACT ME IMMEDIATELY.
KINDLY PROVIDE YOUR:
FULL NAME:... HOME ADDRESS:... EMAIL:.. AND TELL PHONE:...
FOR POSSIBLE DELIVERY.
THANKS FOR YOUR PATIENTS,
WASHINGTON DC.
Mrs. JILL BIDEN Official Residence of the President of The White House
(the US) 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington DC 20500 US.
Contact me urgently.
Thanks so much for your understandstanding,
Yours in services.
|
Anti-fraud resources:
