|
|
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.
Advertisement:
|
Help friends and family on their PC!
Share the screen, keyboard and mouse.
Get connected securely from anywhere in under two minutes!
www.CrossLoop.com
|
|
Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:
- The following fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
- "australian lottery" (can only win this lottery if you bought a ticket)
- 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.
Fraud email example:
From: "AUSTRALAIN INTL LOTTERY" <drawspromotion@gmail.com>
Reply-To: r.smithdesk@gmail.com
Date: Wed, 28 May 2008 06:55:15 -0800
Subject: YOU HAVE MADE IT $400,000,00 (CALL +234-803-760-4182)
WE GOT YOUR E-MAIL AS A WINNER OF THE $400,000,00USD IN THE AUSTRALIAN
LOTTERY AND WE WANT INFORM YOU THAT YOU HAVE TO MAIL MR RICHARD SMITH
e-mail: r.smithdesk@gmail.com
Anti-fraud resources:
