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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:
- "activation fee" (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. )
- "transfer into your account" (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)
- "you are advice to " (this email uses bad English)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "GT Bank" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <transfer_dep11@zbavitu.net>
Date: Mon, 25 Oct 2010 13:55:51 +0100
Subject: ACCOUNT/TRANSACTION REMINDER
Dear Customer
This is to inform you that we want to complete all old transaction before the end of this month, because after a proper screening and
verification excises that was conducted in our Bank on the 19th of Oct 2010 in addition with the confirmation from the UN Online
Promotional board, that you are truly one of the beneficiary of $1.1 Million for the year 2010 UN online funds donation.
This is to inform you that your fund have been deposited in our transit account and will be available for immediate transfer into your account
which you are to set up, you are advice to open a Foreign Currency Account with us where your grant can be transferred into.
This account will be activated after you have made the initial deposit of $50 USD as your account activation fee or you can open an
online account in our bank and make your transfer online into any account of your choice.
What next?
We'll advise that you get back to us within the next 2 working days.
Upon receipt of your email we shall send you our sign up application form and payment details which you are to use in making your payment for your
online account set up.
Please Note that no deductions of any fees is allowed because we received your money in BOND and duly insured, based on our policies and as a
result of the space of time available, you are hereby advised to act fast so we can provide you with the best of our banking services.
Regards.
Uwem Akai
For: Guaranty Trust Bank Plc
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Anti-fraud resources:
