|
|
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:
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
Fraud email example:
From: Norman Gerald <sw0279531@gmail.com>
Reply-To: scfdp@outlook.com
Date: Fri, 14 Apr 2023 09:13:10 +0100
Subject: URGENT RESPONSE NEEDED
Compliment of the day to you!..
It’s my pleasure to write you today, I am Barrister Norman Gerald a
lawyer to Mr.Jorge, a gold merchant, who was my client before he died
as a result of Corona Virus Pandemic (COVID 19). And I hope that you
will not expose or betray this trust and confident that am about to
repose in you for the benefit of both us, am in need of your help as a
foreigner to transfer his left over fund (Ten million five hundred
thousand British Pounds) into your bank account. I will give you full
details of this transaction immediately you notify me your interest.
Regards.
Norman Gerald.
|
Anti-fraud resources:
