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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)
- ",000,000" (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)
- "loans.gtb@gmail.com" (This email address looks like addresses used in fake loan scams. Be suspicious of any lender who uses a free webmail address or who is based in different country from yourself.)
- 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.
- +447023078748 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
- 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.
- loans.gtb@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "GUARANTEE TRUST LOANS" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <loans.gtb@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 25 Oct 2009 17:32:29 +0100
Subject: LOAN OFFER! APPLY NOW FOR LOANS WITH 3% INTEREST RATE
GUARANTEE TRUST LOANS.
Tel: +44 702 307 8748
Fax: +44 844 774 1022
Ref: GT/0417NI/09/EKE
Dear Sir/Madam,
Welcome to GUARANTEE TRUST Plc. We Offer Private, Commercial and Personal Loans with very Minimal annual Interest Rates as Low as 3% within a 1 year to 30 years repayment duration period to any part of the world. We give out loans within the range of $10,000 to $100,000,000 USD. Our loans are well insured for maximum security is our priority. Interested Persons should contact us via E-mail:
Lender's Name: Mr. Dennis Morgan
Lender's Email: loans.gtb@gmail.com
BORROWERS INFORMATION:
Names:
Country:
Address:
Age:
Fax Number:
Home Phone Number:
Mobile Phone Number:
Occupation:
Sex:
Monthly Income:
Amount Needed:
Loan duration:
Best Regards,
Mr. Dennis Morgan.
GTB LOANS.
Tel: +44 702 408 5993
Fax: +44 844 774 1022
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Anti-fraud resources:
