419 scam: "Mr. Kwesi Fripong" <act_lawyer@yahoo.co.uk> Thanking you in advance,

joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet

Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days

Home

About Us

Spam

419/Nigeria

Fraud

Contact

"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:
- "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- "chambers" (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.
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.
- fripongmrkwes.golddust.sellers@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Kwesi Fripong" <act_lawyer@yahoo.co.uk>
Reply-To: fripongmrkwes.golddust.sellers@gmail.com
Date: Wed, 24 Oct 2012 11:56:17 +0100 (BST)
Subject: Thanking you in advance,

Dear Sir/Madam,
Attention: Gold Dust Buyer.
I am very happy to send you this offer, i am local mineral reassures Gold Dust miners representative Chief executive Gold dust Marketing management here in Ghana, i stand with Ghana Government sale their product to a serious buyer of gold dust and Dori bars. I got your contact e-mail address during my search for gold buyer and user with Ghana Chambers of Commerce, i saw your information there then i decided to contact you.
If you are interested to work with me kindly send your contact details information followed by your personal Phone number and Fax number for our urgent communication so that i will give you more details about Ghana vital product as you need with better price regarding to your response to my mail. God bless you.

Thanking you in advance,
Mr. Kwesi Fripong
Private E-mail: fripongmrkwes.golddust.sellers@gmail.com

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam