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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:
- "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)
- "dear beneficiary," (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "adbcustomer@fastservice.com" (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: =?UTF-8?B?IkRyLiBTYWdvdCBCb3JkZS4i?= <sagotborde@speedy.com.ar>
Date:
Subject:
ATTN: Dear Beneficiary,
This is to inform you that your f=
und worth the sum of $23.5Million us dollars has been deposited in the cust=
ody of African Development Bank today for release (ADB) so African Developm=
ent Bank Republic Du Benin, will transfer the funds direct to your bank acc=
ount.
So, you are required to contact the bank right now throu=
gh their contact information listed below to enable them speed the transfer=
without any further delay.
Bank Name: African Development Ban=
k Benin (ADB)
BP 03-2098 Jericho-Cotonou
Contact Person: Cruiser Jone=
s.
Email: adbcustomer@fastservice.com
Tel: +229-98-52-40-62
=
Please, hurry up and contact the bank today through their above email a=
ddress so that they will proceed on the transfer.
Waiting to h=
ear from you today as soon as you contact the bank.
Thanks,
Dr. Sagot Borde.
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Anti-fraud resources:
