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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- This email message is a "New Partner from Paraguay" scam.
- 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.
- steven.p_morris25@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr.Tom Griffo." <Mr.TomGriffo@yahoo.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: steven.p_morris25@yahoo.com
Date: Mon, 19 Mar 2012 14:01:14 -0500 (ECT)
Subject: Reward for your past effort
Dear Friend.
Hope this mail find you in an excellent condition of health. This is
Mr.Tom Griffo. writing to you once again, Thank you for the assistance
rendered to me when i was really in need, it is a thing of joy to inform
you that finally, I have succeeded in collecting those funds at long last.
I'm happy to inform you about my success in getting those funds
transferred under the co-operation of a new partner from UK. Presently I'm
in Europe for investment projects with my own share of the total sum.
Meanwhile I didn't forget your past efforts and attempts to assist me
during the transfer, I have decided to reward you with the sum of $1.2 One
Million Two hundred thousand dollars only. You are advised to contact my
Secertary Mr.steven.p.morris. in Ghana, his email
addressis:(steven.p_morris25@yahoo.com) Telephone is 00233 547860258 call
him and ask him about the money. I appreciated your efforts at that time
very much. So feel free and get in touch with him and instruct him how to
send the amount to you. Please do let me know immediately you write to
Mr.steven.p.morris. I'm very busy here WITH MY STUDIES and the investment
projects. I tried many times to talk to you on phone but you could not
respond and I have no time for myself because we are very busy now.
Best Regards,
Mr.Tom Griffo.
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Anti-fraud resources:
