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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:
- "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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Message <info@earmarrk.com>
Reply-To: mrsevelynlamine@gmail.com
Date: Thu, 18 Jan 2024 22:38:45 +0000
Subject: KINDLY CONSIDER !!
Hello,good day,
Please bear with me over this unexpected message from me to you,
reasons being that I am desperately in need of sincere assistance
right now.
I am a widow with a son who is now 14 years of age and in school in
another country, I am from Cote d`Ivoire and I lost my husband in a
fire incident in Guinea Conakry in 2019, I am presently going through
cancerous difficulties and servia pains and I need to put things in
order for my only child before things get out of hand because I have
been deeply hurt and disappointed by the only family member I have
whose only intention is to take over forcefully all my late husband
assets for himself and therefore I need to act fast now that I have
little strength in me.
I am contacting you after much deliberation and prayers to let you
know that I have funds amounting to US$ 26 Million dollars made out of
our gold trade when my husband was alive and presently the said sum is
deposited with a financial deposit vault overseas which I will detail
to you as we discuss further.
My communication to you is based on your country's developments and to
find out if you are able to help me receive said funds and invest the
funds into any lucrative business you are conversant with having got
your contact online. I need to secure the future of my only son now
that I have the strength and that is the reason I am doing this and we
shall enter into a memorandum of understanding that will protect the
interest of both parties for good.
You will be getting 30% of the principal sum as you take charge of
this matter wholeheartedly. Therefore kindly let me know your stand on
this to enable me to provide more details.
Regards
Mrs. Evelyn Lamine
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