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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 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)
- "dear beneficiary," (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
- 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.
- david.kwabena@rediffmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: " Project Funders Ghana ltd." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <projectfunhers@ymail.com>
Date: Thu, 26 Jan 2012 00:28:40 +0100
Subject: Awaiting your response.
Dear Beneficiary,
We have been commissioned by the WORLD BANK,EU and Bank of Ghana and concultants to oversee to release the sum of US$18.8 Million Dollars to
you from your Contract/Lottery/inheritance Sum left outstanding over the past 12 months.This becomes necessary owing to the ineptitude and
bottlenecks created by Government agencies in the discharge of this task,thereby leading to delays in outstanding payments.It is important that
you contact us immediately filling out the form below.
Download this form on your company letter head paper,print in hard copy,endorse with the details and send same back in Jpeg form back to us
via this email address.Also send us scanned copy of your international passport for further ID and records.
PAYMENTS APPLICATION FORM “M”
1. Last Name: ________________________________________
2. First Name: ____________________ ___________________
3. Address: _________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
4. Home Tel: ____________________ (Cell) ______
5. Date of Birth: ______________________________________
6. Occupation: _____________________________________
7. Business Address: ___________________________________________
___________________________________________
8. Amount Expected: _________________________________
9. Banking Details:_______________________
I hereby authorize that PROJECT FUNDERS GH. LTD to wire my outstanding money into the above stated account. I certify that the information is
true to the best of my knowledge.
___________________
___________
Applicant’s Signature Date
************* IMPORTANT NOTICE*************
PROJECT FUNDERS GH. LTD will not be held liable for any wrongful transfer as a result of error from the Beneficiary.Acoount information are to
be properly verified to be true before sending the FORM M back to US.All processing Taxes and Fees will be paid by me in line with the laid
down proceedural rules of the World Bank Payment Reconcilliatory Board and the Government of Ghana.
.
Awaiting your response.
Regards,
Dr.David Kwabena.
MD/CEO Project Funders Ghana ltd.
Accra-Ghana
david.kwabena@rediffmail.com
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Anti-fraud resources:
