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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 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.
- lmortreuil@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Groupe SG <groupesg1940@hotmail.com>
Date: Sat, 7 Jun 2014 10:44:17 +0000
Subject: Inquiry-Advice-Guidance
I am Laurent MORTREUIL; M/D (Director General) of Societe Generale Benin. I must tell you the truths. I do not know you. I just got your contacts and decided to contact you. I need your advice.
I discovered opportunity to get huge amount of funds for investment. And I want to bank the funds in your area for a short period. I need to do this transaction with somebody who has private company. I do not know any reliable person in your area who has private company. This is why I decided to contact you so that you will give me advice and guidance. Still, I want to ask you some questions.
(a): Do you have any company that belongs to you alone except your office?
(b): Can you connect for me somebody in your area who has private company?
(c): Have you handled funds transaction before that was up to ¤17.000.000.00?
(d): Do you operate corporate bank account? Corporate account is Business account. It is account that its Beneficiary (Name of Account or Holder) is name of company.
This E-Mail Account that I use now to write to you is not my office E-Mail Address. The secretaries and webmasters of our office cannot see any E-Mail you send to this E-Mail Address. Nobody knows this E-Mail Address. I created the two E-Mail Address just for my communication with you. So feel free to write to me through this E-Mail Address. And send copy to lmortreuil@yahoo.com so that I will see your E-Mail in time even when I am out of office.
CC: lmortreuil@yahoo.com
I apologize for inconvenience this could cause to you. Thank you for your understanding. And I wait for your prompt response.
Thank you. Sincerely,
Laurent MORTREUIL
Administrateur Directeur Général
Societe Generale Benin
Website: www.societegenerale.bj
www.societegenerale.bj/direction.html
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Anti-fraud resources:
