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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:
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "onlline22_2012@wss-id.org" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- 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: Patricia Turner <patriciaturner90@earthlink.net>
Reply-To: Patricia Turner <onlline22_2012@wss-id.org>
Date: Fri, 14 Sep 2012 14:57:10 +0430 (GMT+04:30)
Subject: Attention Beneficiary
Attention Beneficiary
Good day to you and I hope all is well, I wish to inform you that we
have not forgotten your funds here and I have been trying to see that I
sort things out with the paying bank regarding the fastest and easy way
to pay your funds safely and I thank God that the Bank of Africa has
agreed to use their online banking transfer to pay you and to enable you
transfer your funds by yourself.
The bank Manager of Bank of Africa also told me that with their online
banking you can have access to transfer your money from your home or
office at your convenient time in your computer once you register and
open online account with the Bank of Africa who are the paying bank of
your funds.
So I will advise you to contact them with their contact information’s
because I have already deposited your funds with them and they will be
giving you their form to fill in their online web site and after your
fill form, they will give you access code to your account statement and
you will now have the code to transfer your funds by yourself whenever
you wish, so feel free to contact the Bank of Africa.
Bank of Africa Full Contact Information’s.
Contact Person: Rev. Godwin Gandoki
Address: 55 BP 991 Cotonou,Benin Republic.
Office Land Line :( 00229) 21 159 569
Direct Line to Manager: +229 9768 5608
Office Fax: 229 211 59 566
Customer care: onlline22_2012@wss-id.org
As you contact the Bank of Africa, tell them you want to register online
with their bank to enable you have access to your funds in their bank
for easy transfer from your country and they should send you their web
site to enable you register online.
Thanks You
Patricia Turner
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Anti-fraud resources:
