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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:
- "you will be entitled to 30%" (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)
- "contact me immediately" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "god fearing " (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- 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.
- edwardlamptey1978@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Edward" <lampteyedward26@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: edwardlamptey1978@gmail.com
Date: Tue, 4 Aug 2009 13:24:33 +0300 (EEST)
Subject: from mr. Edward Lamptey VERY URGENT
Attn:
My name is Mr.Edward Lamptey 57 years of age I am compelled to contact
you as result of a lifetime business relationship I wished to
establish with you honorable self. I am a God fearing gentleman of the
confidence that God will certainly create an enabling environment in
our midst through which his name will be glorified.
I am the Eastern regional Auditor General of the Ghana commercial Bank Ltd
Of Ghana. I am a Christian. I write you this letter in good faith
believing both of us will work with one accord for the realization of this
project.. I am in control of the sum of Twelve million, Eight Hundred and
Fifty Thousand US Dollars ($12,850,000.00) that was an excess of profit
made by our Eastern region branch office in the last quarters of the year
2008.
Due to the present political position of this country, I have carefully
placed the afore said fund in an Escrow Call Deposit Account and did not
declare this to my head office, Can I really trust you to hold this money
for me until I arrive your country and pick it up myself? This is where
the problem lies. You will be entitled to 30% of the total money as your
commission if you will be human enough to work with me.. If you accept my
offer you can contact me immediately via my personal l email address:
edwardlamptey1978@gmail.com
All I need is your formidable current account where the money will be
moved accordingly. I will discretely give you all the information
concerning the account and the deposit so that you can apply to my
headquarters directly for the re-location of the money. There is
practically no risk involved it will be a bank-to-bank transfer. I hope
you understand my situation.
Thank you and God bless.
Very truly yours,
Mr.Edward Lamptey
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