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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:
- "the consignment" (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)
- "trunk box" (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)
- "consignment " (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)
- "trunk boxes" (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)
- "million 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)
- "foreign remittance department" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
- "(ecowas)" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Guarantee trustbank <gtbank.mt@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 23 Aug 2014 04:08:03 -0700
Subject: FROM GUARANTY TRUST BANK GHANA LIMITED
*GUARANTY TRUST BANK GHANA LIMITED (GTB) FOREIGN REMITTANCE OPERATIONS
DEPARTMENT BRANCH SPINTEX ROAD P.O. BOX TN 2051 ACCRA GHANA. TELEPHONE
NUMBER: +233 54 714 4766 I am Mr. Akingbola Erastus Managing Director of
Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) Ghana Limited Foreign Remittance Operation
department and I'm hereby to officially inform you that the United Nations
Authoritative organization in collaboration with Economic Community of West
Africa State (ECOWAS) In conjunction with Africa Union Sub-Region Hereby
declared the originality and geniuses of the total amount of US$ 10.7
Million Dollars in your favor as the true beneficiary owner which this fund
is originated from the Secularization which retrieving of Refuges
consignment trunk boxes from unregistered security companies which the
consignment boxes discovered through the special Tax force being set/up by
the United Nations in Affiliation with the Ministry of Financial
Institutes. However, with all due respect of the stated authoritative
government declaration is hereby given accordance with privilege status of
implementation obligatory compulsory performance and penalty of perjury in
above stated organization protocol Laws, therefore authorized our Bank to
transfer the said fund to you as the legal beneficiary to take control over
the total fund therefore you have to empower our Bank Guaranty Trust Bank
of Ghana to make the necessary provision to make the transfer to your
destination Bank account on your own choice without any financial security
interrogation. Therefore due to the entire government authorization for
better agenda therefore all related parties should act for the fulfillment
of the said transaction and covered obligatory accordingly, for further
procedure we have to obtain (DEDUCTION PERMIT CERTIFICATE) in your name
which cost you US$ 175 Dollars to enable us have privilege status to deduct
all the changes from the total amount US$ 10.7 Million Dollars during the
transfer process upon the Certificate presentation definitely the transfer
will commence to you without further requirement. Thanks for your
anticipate cooperation, I wish to Congratulate you in advance. Best Regard,
Mr. Akingbola Erastus. Managing Director Foreign Remittance Department of
Guaranty Trust Bank of Ghana.*
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Anti-fraud resources:
