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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:
- "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- "dormant account" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
- 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.
- beth.trost21@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: Beth Trost <aeaeplus@neostrada.pl>
Reply-To: beth.trost21@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 22 Aug 2011 03:38:00 +0800
Subject: HERE IS YOUR GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY TO CLAIM MONEY FROM DORMANT ACCOUNTS
IN BANKS WORLDWIDE.
Dear Sir/Madam,
HERE IS YOUR GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY TO CLAIM MONEY FROM DORMANT ACCOUNTS =
IN BANKS WORLDWIDE.
Please pardon my surprise email requesting you of your loyal partners=
hip to help act as confident Claimant of money in Millions of Dollars=
/Euros/GBP laying in several Dormant bank accounts in 16 banks worldw=
ide with AAA/AA+ bank rating. We have full access/confidential bank o=
fficial arrangements to these bank accounts as we cannot
disclose names of these banks now until you demonstrate acceptance to=
the following conditions:-
1.) Open a New Bank account with Joint Signatory with a recommended M=
ember of Our Team or Give us full online access to an existing Bank (=
You are free to empty the bank account of it's cash content).
2.) Face to Face Meeting maybe required ensuring confidence and trust=
between both parties.
3.) Sharing Ratio: - You (30%)/ We (70%).
The account will be used to deposit/disburse all money (Bank Transfer=
s/Bank Draft) received from the any of these Dormant accounts. Setup =
of these new or existing bank accounts is the major reason why we nee=
d people who are not directly related to us in any way, to be our par=
tner for confidential and security reasons. Besides, we
need more accounts from different persons in different locations worl=
dwide to enhance smooth operation avoid banks suspicion and irrelevan=
t questioning.
*This deal is 100% real and No Games. Travels expenses/Contingencies =
shall be borne by both parties only after Bank account is ready. Your=
transaction reference code is FMDA/SWIFTCLEAR/PDFT408/7551102. If yo=
u receive similar offers without these reference code or same or diff=
erent ref. Code twice (The 2nd time); know that the second (2nd) is a=
scam/hoax. Be careful, so that you don=92t lose money or get carried=
away by sham.
If you=92re witted and confident don't hesitate to contact me on the =
following Email:beth.trost21@gmail.com
Best regards and God Bless,
Beth Trost,
N.B: Below do links to show this type of transaction exist.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Jewish_Congress_lawsuit_against_Sw=
iss_banks
http://www.emirates247.com/news/cb-focus-on-dormant-accounts-2010-12-=
09-1.327030
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1295997/David-Cameron-raids-d=
ormant-accounts-pay-Big-Society-
schemes.htmlhttp://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200607/cmselec=
t/cmtreasy/533/53305.htm
http://www.which4u.co.uk/bank-accounts/news/1427-hsbc-indicates-the-g=
o-ahead-for-its-dormant-accounts-scheme
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Anti-fraud resources:
