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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:
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "dear beneficiary," (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
- "boaonline2011_benin@live.co.uk" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
Fraud email example:
From: "Andrew Henry" <office_web1@att.net>
Reply-To: boaonline2011_benin@live.co.uk
Date: Mon, 27 Jun 2011 22:21:45 -0400
Subject: Your Payment Via Bank of Africa
Attention Dear Beneficiary,
We are very sorry for what happen to you since last year. Now listen the
reason this money is coming to you is that the government of this country has
found that you was scammed since last year and they have arrested those that
scammed people.
So since yesterday after we did not hear from you or receive your mail we have
made arrangement with BANK OF AFRICA BENIN REPUBLIC on how to transfer your
money into your Bank Account at your country and note that your money which
Bank are going to transfer is $1.800,000.00 and what you have to do right now
is to contact the Bank immediately, so that the manager will transfer your
money into your bank account and be informed that we have paid the Bank for
the open of new account fee for you.
Now listen, the money that remain which you can pay to him is wire transfer
fee which is only $87USD to transfer your money directly into your bank
account through online Banking.
Try to contact the Bank through this info below:
MR.RICHARD JOE
BANK OF AFRICA ONLINE
TEL.+229-6687 6605
EMAIL.... boaonline2011_benin@live.co.uk
please make sure that you follow Bank manager's instruction and forward all
your bank account detail where to transfer your money into and your current
telephone number.
This is information the Bank Manager need from you.
YOUR COUNTRY............
YOUR FULL NAME........
OCCUPATION...........
HOME ADDRESS.....
MOBIL PHONE NUMBER.....
AGE....
SEX....
My regard to your family & May God Be With you for your understanding
Mr. Andrew Henry
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