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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "million united states 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.
- paulwilsonfield@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: PAUL WILSON <arthur_chiang@t-sell.com.tw>
Date: Sat, 9 Nov 2013 05:27:25 +0800 (CST)
Subject: GREETING.
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Dear Friend,
My name is Mr. Paul Wilson , I am a private business consultant for
very eminent persons in the Asian and South Africa region. They have appointed me to source on their behalf a foreigner with whom they can jointly entrust a reasonable amount of money, which will be channeled into a highly lucrative business venture. I got your address through the chamber of Commerce and industries.
They have $19million (Nineteen million United states Dollars). They
request strict confidentiality due to their public nature.
they prefer to be anonymous hence i have been given the mandate to
source for someone of high business experience with very good
reputation.
Proposal in summary:
My clients are top government officials in the Asian and South African
region they want the funds to be invested through a well-established
businessman abroad who can front for them without disclosing their identity. You will be made the beneficiary of the funds in order to manage these funds on their behalf and you will be awarded 20%
of the total sum as your share in this deal then invest the rest for clients.
So if truly you are interested in proceeding, Kindly indicate by
sending a response to My E-mail Address:- paulwilsonfield@gmail.com
Yours Sincerely,
Paul Wilson
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Anti-fraud resources:
