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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 sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- "hundred thousand united state dollars" (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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- 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.
- mrphumphatsawasdipol@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Sawasdipol" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <Mrphumphatsawasdipol@hotmail.com>
Date: Sun, 29 May 2011 22:00:13 +0700
Subject: INVESTMENT PROPOSAL From Phumphat Sawasdipol.
Dear Sir/madam
It is my honor and with a heart deep of humiliation and seeking
good consolation that I write to you. My name is Phumphat
Sawasdipol the son of Late Maj. Gen. Khattiya Sawasdipol from
Thailand. My Late Father Maj. Gen. Khattiya Sawasdipol was the
leader of the Anti- government protesters ("The Red Shirts")
who was shot on the head on 13th May 2010 while he was granting
an interview with the New York Times. You can read more on my
late father's murder on this Link:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/14/world/asia/14thai.html
The government has seized all the multibillion dollar companies
owned by my late father and his partners. They have also frozen
his bank accounts. I write to seek your assistance in investing
the fund amounting US$21.6 Million
Six Hundred Thousand United State Dollars] which my late
father deposited in a finance firm.
I will give you all the legitimate information concerning the
fund and details about me on hearing from you
Mrphumphatsawasdipol@hotmail.com You are assured that you
will have much benefit as you assist me in this regard to
secure this fund. Please do not disclose any part of this
message if you are not interested in giving this profitable
assistance.
Best Regards
Phumphat Sawasdipol.
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