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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:
- "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "utmost confidentiality" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- 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.
- georgeculmerp@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. George Culmer" <mrgeorgeculmer@araf.pk>
Reply-To: culmergprivate@outlook.com
Date: Wed, 14 Jun 2017 06:29:39 +0300
Subject: Hello
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From: Mr. George Culmer
Group Finance Director of
Lloyds Banking Group United Kingdom
25 Gresham Street, London EC2V 7HN
www.lloydsbankinggroup.com
Good Day,
I have a very important request that made me to contact you.I am Mr.
George
Culmer and i found your profile very interesting and decided to reach
you
directly to solicit your assistance and guidelines in making a business
transaction partnership and transfer of a very huge amount to your
country
within the next few banking days.I presently work as a Group Finance
Director of the Lloyds Banking Group.
But at this moment, I am constrained to issue more details about this
profitable Business Transaction until I get your response by mail.
Please take out a moment of your very busy schedule today to respond
back
if you are interested so that i can let you know more about this
transaction.You can respond to me on my alternative email address
(georgeculmerp@hotmail.com).
I wish for utmost confidentiality in handling this transaction.
I await your urgent reply.
Yours Truly,
Mr. George Culmer
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Anti-fraud resources:
