419 scam: " Paul Smith"<attorney@piellibreapart.com.ar> P.Smith & Co. Solicitors

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:
- "00,000.00" (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.
This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- +447024039842 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: " Paul Smith" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <attorney.ppaulsmith@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 20 Mar 2010 08:24:39 +0100
Subject: P.Smith & Co. Solicitors

P.Smith & Co. Solicitors
London, England
Office line: +44-702 403 9842

On behalf of my late client Sir Philip Slim (KSM). I write to notify you that my late client - Sir Philip Slim (KSM) made you a beneficiary to the bequest sum of Nine million eight hundred thousand dollars only.(9,800,000.00)

Late Sir Philip Slim died after a brief illness on March 7th, 2009. Until his death, Late Sir Philip Slim was a renowned Philanthropist and a knight of Saint Mulumba. According to him, he is giving you this because of your involvement in Christian activities and in making better the world's situation.

As trustees and Executors of this Will, I wish to inform you that the Will was read at the British Crown Court probate division on September 10th, 2010 as the law provides and ready for execution.

You are therefore required by this notification to confirm your ownership to this legacy by providing the information required.
1. Full Name:
2. Telephone number,
3. Fax number
4. Age:
5. Contact address:
6. Occupation:

I will detail you on the procedure and details involved in executing this Will on receipt of your email reply.

God bless you. Best regards,

Attorney Paul Smith{Esq.}
(Head of Chamber)

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam