419 scam: Maxwell Craig <maxwell_1

joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet

Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days

Home

About Us

Spam

419/Nigeria

Fraud

Contact

"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)
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.
- shalombernanke@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Maxwell Craig <maxwell_1_211@yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 1 Jul 2015 08:45:07 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: Hello

HelloÂ

I am. Shalom Bernanke, Lieutenant General United States army serving in Tripoli, Libya, I am seriously looking for a serious business partner that is based on trust and sincerity friend for an investment in your country. During our last patrol i discovered a box in a farmhouse near the war zone and the content of the box is $20 Million Dollars. I have a sum of $20 Million Dollars in my position which I wish to deliver in your country for investment that will bring return in future.

I have accepted to offer you 25% of the total money for your assistance. If you are ready for the transaction, please provide me, your full name, age, occupation, nationality, mobile phone number and office line.Â I am serving in the United States Army of the 1st Armored Division in Tripoli, Libya, as our mission here is highly exclusive due to insurgentâ€™s everyday and car bombs are attacking our peaceful mission here. I consider myself to start transferring this money in your position before it will be too late, because our job here is very risky.

Reply to my email: (shalombernanke@gmail.com) I shall tell you more about myself and how to deliver the fund in your position as soon as I hear from you.

Thank you,
Lieutenant Shalom

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam