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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:
- "million united state 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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- 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.
- ggerald761@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Dr: Daniel" <goodservice526@yahoo.pt>
Reply-To: "Dr: Daniel" <ggerald761@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 10 Jan 2015 11:39:44 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: Attn: My Dear Beneficiary
 Attn: My Dear Beneficiary
I am Mr.Gerald Rani the managing Director General of Financial Bank ATM Department Officer Cotonou Benin republic in West Africa. I am writing for your notification that your compensation in Amount of ($4.5Million United State Dollars from the United Nation Organization with the World Bank Organization including the Federal Government of Benin Republic has been converted this morning into an ATM Card, and the we in responsibility to make sure that your Fund into the ATM Card sending to you directly there in your country without any hesitating.
Right now, I am here for your update that you should get back to me directly with your full home Address where this ATM Card will be sending to you because the Federal Government of Benin republic has been mandated that your ATM Card should be sending to you latest on Monday next week as God has done this for you and your family so that all the money you lost for the internet scammers will be getting back to you in a Good condition.
This is what needed from you right now so that we will process this transaction immediately as there’s no much time to be wasted according to the instruction given by the Government of Benin republic.
Your Full Name............?
Address...................?
Country of origin.........?
Occupation................?
Your Next of Kin Name.....?
Your date of Birth........?
Your telephone number.....?
Fax........................?
Office address (if any).......?
My dear I will be immediate waiting for your reply with the following information as we want to get everything done to you latest on Monday next week.
Yours Faithfully
Dr: Daniel Victor Financial Bank ATM Department Officer Benin:
Telephone: +229 99786007 OR
ggerald761@gmail.com
Congratulations.
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