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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:
- "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- "million british pounds" (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)
- "waiting for your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- 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.
- mrculmer@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr.George Culmer" <pin.pin01@ymail.com>
Reply-To: g.culmer@yahoo.com
Date: Wed, 01 Jul 2015 07:36:40 -0500
Subject: Dear Sir/Madam,
From: Mr. George Culmer
Executive Director and Chief Financial Officer.
LLoyds Banking Group United Kingdom.
Greetings To You !!!!!
Dear Sir/Madam,
With due respect to your person and much sincerity of purpose . I have a
business proposal which I will like to handle with you. £25,000.000.00-[25
Million Million British Pounds Sterling} is involves. But be rest assured that
everything is legal and risk free as I have concluded all the
arrangements, and
also I had discussed this issue with the Bank Executive and non-executive
directors of Lloyds Banking Group and they have instructed me to look for a
foreigner who will be capable to handle this transaction so that we
can transfer
this money out from Uk to your country. As the Executive Director and Chief
Financial Officer of our bank i have all legal papers that will back this
transaction up. Kindly ndicate your interest as to enable me tell you more
detail of this proposal.
PRIVATE EMAIL: mrculmer@yahoo.com
Waiting for your urgent response more details.
Yours truly,
Mr. George Culmer
www.lloydsbankinggroup.com
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Anti-fraud resources:
