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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:
- "million us 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.
- mrpaulchristopher63@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Mr Paul Christopher <mrpaulchristopher613@yahoo.com.ph>
Reply-To: Mr Paul Christopher <mrpaulchristopher63@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 9 Oct 2014 11:20:58 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: I need your urgent respond
 Good morning please accept my apologies for writing this surprise letter you. I am Mr. Paul Christopher, I am a bank manager in my Bank here in Ghana.
I have a very important business that I want to discuss with you. There is a project account opened in my signature for a long time client of our Bank from your country who just passed away, and the amount is 7.5 million us dollars. I want to invest this funds and introduce you to our Bank by this agreement.
All I need is your sincere cooperation and I guarantee that it will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect us from breaking the law, and i want to assured you after the transfer of this fund into your account the sharing will be 40% for your assistance and 60% will be my, Please i need your urgent respond for more details
Thank you once again i want to respond me very urgent if you are interested to do this business me And please delete this message if you are not interested.
Regards
Mr Paul Christopher
Phone No: +233 544 759 403
Email: mrpaulchristopher63@gmail.com
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Anti-fraud resources:
