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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.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "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)
- "diplomatic courier" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- 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.
- lugardken22@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: LUGARD <lugardken22@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 14 Dec 2014 06:04:43 +0400 (AMT)
Subject: FROM LUGARD
My name is Lugard Ken All I needed is your attention to hear me out which
I definitely know you will never regret . I am of German origin but
Egyptian citizen. I write to you this letter from Tura detention centre
Egypt with the help of one prison officer which I may not mention his name
for security reasons.
I worked as operation manager in Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation
(EGPC) under the former ousted President Mohamed Morsi
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohamed_Morsi> administration. Because of
the revolution in Egypt that ousted the formal president and couple with
mismanagement of fund in the sector I was among the loyalist of Mohamed
Morsi <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohamed_Morsi> jailed in the country.
The worst of it is that my wife and only son had a very fatal accident that
took the life of my wife. Right now my son is critically in the hospital
and had undergone several surgeries.
To cut the whole thing short, hopefully in my next letter I shall in detail
narrate to you everything about me and my life. I have with me the sum of
17.2 million Dollars which I will tell you how I got the money in my next
letter also. I have this money stored somewhere very safe here in Egypt and
I want the money to be moved without delay. All I am asking if you can
assist me receive this fund. I have a 100% authentic means of transferring
or moving this money through diplomatic courier service without any hitch.
I only need your acceptance and all is done. And bear in mind that every
expense will be taking care by me until you received this money pending
when my son recovers from the accident then you hand it over to him. I
shall give you 35% of the total sum and 65% you keep it for my son . I
shall instruct him on what to do hence some of the money will used to pay
my lawyer who will appeal the judgment of the trial court here in Egypt
Please if you are interested in assisting me I will give to you the
complete details you need for us to carry out this transaction
successfully. I decided to find someone that is real and not imaginary and
that is why I went to a secured site where I can be sure that the person is
real. I believe I can trust you. Right now I am very careful with the way I
communicate so as to reduce any kind of risk until this money is finally in
your custody. I shall be communicating to you through email once the
officer come to the office because I used his palmtop gadget computer to
fax and write and I would also give you a call when it is necessary so as
to inform you on any important information. But you reply with this
email: lugardken22@gmail.com
I want you to be brave as I have everything under control. I have every
proof of this fund in my possession to show you that everything is
authentic. I wait for your response. But my promise is In less than 5 days
the fund should have been delivered to you and my son when recovered will
come over hence I do not know my fate here as the government plan to kill
me.
Thanks
Your faithfully
Lugard Ken
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