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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:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "account opening" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "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)
- "top secret" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "barr." (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- 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: "Barr.George Ziegan" <georgeziegan12@yahoo.it>
Date: Tue, 29 Dec 2009 16:52:12 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: Priviledge Information.
Barr. George Ziegan.
Solicitor And Advocate
Family and corporate Law Office
Carre 214 Cotonou Jerico
Reupblic Du Benin.
229 93 23 26 09(24 Hours Emergency Helpline)
Dear,
A situation so urgent and immediate neccessistate i contact you for a top secret business relationsip by viture of my position as head of notaries Bank Of Africa Cotonou Republic of benin.
My position in the bank here exposes me to know more and have access as well as making decisions and judicial report on dominant funds,deposits and account from deceased customer's that did not include their next of kins in their account opening statutory documents,as some of this business magnets and giants that come from far Asia and America,North America etc do not want their government to jusitfy their reasources they come here to hide their estates in cash in our bank and they sometime die accidently without making declarations of such deposits to their partner's and families and as a result it is only me that can make customary judicial report that such deposit,account or funds is dorminant before we redirect it to the government as a matured unclaimed dividend and it becomes government money and in return we recieve only promotion in paper.
I am seeking for your coppertation in standing as a beneficiary to Mr.Robert Gregory who died without any registered next of kin to his funds deposit of $16 million (Sixteen Million United States Dollars) with our bank. The funds now have an open beneficiary mandate. If you are interested please do let me know so that I can give you comprehensive details on what we are to do.
The whole approval procedures will be officially and legally processed with your name or the name of any company you may nominate as the bonafide beneficiary.This matter should therefore be treated with utmost secrecy and urgency. Kindly expedite action by calling me urgently on +229 93 23 26 09
Keep all confidential and secret.
Thanks for your understanding,
Barr. George Ziegan.
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