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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 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)
- "your urgent reply" (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.
- gilliardjames005@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: David Gillard <davidgillard@necs.com>
Reply-To: <gilliardjames005@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 7 Oct 2024 15:48:48 -0700
Subject: Business/ Project Funding
EXTERNAL EMAIL: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.
Hello
I actually got your email contact through my online exploitation for proficient business individuals and I decided to contact you directly about this business /project investment funding.
I am aware that spam emails and bogus internet business proposals have become much more sophisticated and created confusion in this modern business world. Please pay attention to understanding our goal and the genuineness of my proposal.
I am contacting you in goodwill about business/project investment funding that will be of mutual benefit to us. My principal is a potential investor with sufficient capital, who can earnestly fund any lawful lucrative business up to Five Hundred Million United States Dollars.
The eligible fund will be approved and disbursed to the trustee nominated active bank account upon feasibility studies of your business/project, capability and your acceptance of the funding terms and agreement.
However, the trustee/beneficiary must show proof that he is capable of handling and managing such a fund.
If you are interested in this transaction, I will appreciate your urgent reply. For further discussion, please contact me at my private email address (gilliardjames005@gmail.com)
Regards,
David Gillard
Business/ Project Funding
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Anti-fraud resources:
