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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:
- 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)
- This email message is a "New Partner from Paraguay" scam.
- 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.
- paulp518@aol.com (AOL; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "David Mark" <info@lee.org>
Reply-To: paulp518@aol.com
Date: Mon, 17 Dec 2018 11:54:41 -0800
Subject: Dear Sir/Madam
Dear Sir/Madam
How are you today? It's been a little longer since last we corresponded . I'm happy to inform you about my success in getting the fund transferred under the co-operation of a new partner . Presently i 'm in Pakistan for business investment.
Meanwhile, I didn't forget your past efforts and attempts to assist me in transferring the fund despite we couldn't reach a specified conclusion/succeed . I am sorry for what happened all this while because it got to a time when there was so much confusion that made me loss interest in you about the transaction but I thank God today it is over and was successfully transferred .
I want you to contact my secretary, Her Name is Mr.POPE JOHN PAUL
Email Address: ( paulp518@aol.com )
I left with him an instruction to send you the total sum of (US$m2.500.000.00) which I kept for your compensation for all the past efforts and attempts to assist me in this matter .
I so much appreciate your efforts at that time even though thing failed to work as planned . So feel free to get in touched with him and instruct him on where to send the amount to you . Please do let me know immediately you receive it so that we can share the joy after all the whole effort at that time .
I believe in resoluteness and as well hoping this compensation will help seal the secret we once both shared . Feel free to get in touch with him.
Thanks,
David Mark
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Anti-fraud resources:
