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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 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:
- "into your nominated bank 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)
- "transfer of your funds" (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 us 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)
- 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.
- 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.
- centralbankbn@safe-mail.net (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs.Jane Williams" <offfiles020@yahoo.pt>
Reply-To: "Mrs.Jane Williams" <centralbankbn@Safe-mail.net>
Date: Tue, 6 Jan 2015 14:41:42 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: Good day to you
 Good day to you,
I write to inform you that I have deposited your funds to Central Bank Benin republic, Your funds will be transferred to your account once you send your account information to the bank, You know that this transaction has taken a longer time than expected and I think that wire transfer is the best and easier way for you to receive your funds worth $2.5 million US Dollars.
Now Contact the below person who is in position to release your fund into your nominated bank
account within 48hours.
Prof, Bernard Richard
Director Central Bank
Benin Republic Foreign
Operations department,
Central Bank International Plc.
Telephone/ +229-989-148-72.
Email:(centralbankbn@Safe-mail.net)
You are require to forward the below information’s to them to avoid transfer of your funds to a wrong person.
(1)Your bank name……………………………
(2)Beneficiary name…………………………
(3)Your Country………………………………
(4)Your account number: ………………………
(5)Routing number: …………………………
(6)Your bank address: ………………………
(7)Your home address: ………………………
(8)Your age and occupation……………………
(9)A copy of your passport: …………………
(10)Your private cell/working number…………
Please forward the following information’s to them now in there email I gave to you and let me know when you do so and also when you receive your funds in your account.
So contact central bank Benin republic for your transfer.Please make sure you don’t make any mistake with those information all so that they will not transfer your funds to a wrong person, I Am very happy because am strongly believe that God is in control.
Good Luck
Best Regards
Mrs.Jane Williams
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