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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.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "your urgent reply" (they are rushing you so you don't have time to think properly)
- "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
- 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.
- apexbankplcbenin40@yahoo.it (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "office_file70@terra.es" <office_file70@terra.es>
Date: Tue, 14 Aug 2007 21:49:15 +0200 (MEST)
Subject: APEX BANK OF BENIN REPUBLIC
ATTN DEAR,
THE MANAGEMENT OF APEX BANK PLC REPUBLIC OF BENIN,WISHES TO INFORM YOU THAT WE ARE IN RECEIPT OF OUR DRAFT CHEQUE ISSUED IN YOUR FAVOUR WITH CASH AMOUNT OF $800,000 ONLY,FROM YOUR AGENT AND HE TOLD US TO CANCELLED THE CHEQUE,BECAUSE YOU DONT WANT TO RECEIVE IT,SO YOU ARE ADVISED TO CONTACT US IMMEDIATELY AND TELL US WHAT IS GOING ON.
YOU CAN CONTACT OUR MANAGER MRS GRACE IBEH ON THIS WEB ADDRESS ( apexbankplcbenin40@yahoo.it ) BEFORE WE CAN TAKE ANY ACTION.
WE ARE WAITING FOR YOUR URGENT REPLY AS SOON AS YOU RECEIVE THIS E-MAIL
THANKS
FOR YOUR COOPERATION.
YOURS FAITHFULLY,
MR DAN CHUKWU.
FOREIGNOPERATIONS
APEX BANK OF BENIN REPUBLIC
Ahora también puedes acceder a tu correo Terra desde el móvil.
Infórmate pinchando aquí.
Anti-fraud resources:
