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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)
- "million 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)
- 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.
- mr.paulitam1965@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr.Paul Itam" <r.pet000021@gmail.com>
Reply-To: mr.paulitam1965@yahoo.com
Date: Tue, 23 Sep 2014 12:09:20 +0000
Subject: IS VERY URGENT
Dear Friend,
Let me start by introducing myself,I am Mr.Paul Itam a Bank Auditor.
I have a sensitive and private offer to seek your partnership in
re-profiling some offshore investment funds worth USD$6.5Million
Dollars. As the regional Auditor General of the bank, it is my duty to
send in a financial report to my head office Every year.last week I
discover that we have made EXCESS profit which nobody is aware of.
I am writing you this letter based on the latest development at my
Department which I will like to bring to your personal
edification.($6.5 million U.S Dollars).And I assure you we would
achieve it successfully if you can follow my instruction and
directives.If we agree on the terms you will be register as the
original depositor of the total funds.
I have agreed to offer you 30% of this money as my foreign partner
after confirmation of the fund in your bank account, If you are
interested,get back to me with the following
details below.
(1)Your age........
(2)Your occupation.....
(3)Your marital status.....
(4)Your full residential address.......
(5)Your private phone and fax number and your complete name.......
As soon as I receive these , I will forward to you the application
form which you will send to the bank.
Please reply me through my private mail box(mr.paulitam1965@yahoo.com)
Best Regard
Mr.Paul Itam
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