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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.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "western union" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "money gram" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "mtcn" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "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)
- "high court" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "federal high court" (This court is often mentioned in '419' scams to give the victim a reason why he/she should send thousands of dollars to the scammers. A 'Federal High Court' exists in Germany and Nigeria, but not in other countries, such as the UK, Spain, Netherlands, Senegal, Benin, South Africa or other countries where fake lawyers in scams often claim to be based. )
- "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.
- Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
- 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.
- +22998272977 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)
- +229 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)
- 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.
- www.ecobank136@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: =?UTF-8?B?Ik1yIEdhcnJ5IEVkd2FyZCI=?= <veronica_diazb@speedy.com.ar>
Date:
Subject:
Your Funds Online Transfer
Your funds has been deposited to=
the ECO BANK plc for online transfer and we the entire Federal High Court =
Of ECOWAS has made every necessary arrangement to transfer your funds to yo=
u via E-online bank transfer since you were unable to receive your funds af=
ter every stories that you heard so far and all the unnecessary payment tha=
t you have been making,so the whole ECOWAS (Economic Community Of Western A=
frican States ) Has concluded to compensate you with the sum of $1 Million =
Dollars plus your due total funds of $16.5 Million United State Dollars mak=
ing your due funds valued sum of $17.5 Million united state dollars , Your =
funds has been agreed up to be transferred to you Via E-online transfer, th=
is method of transfer is where by you transfer your funds to your nominated=
bank account by your self ,so contact the bank with this below information=
.
Director: Mr Garry Edward
Eco Bank Plc Benin Rep.
&nbs=
p;Website: Http://Ecobnk.Net.Tf/
Email: www.ecobank136@yahoo.com Tel: +229-98272977
Address: Rue du Gouverneur Bayol Cotono=
u Benin Republic
Contact him now for the creating of your new =
E-oline Account for easy transfer to your choice account any were around th=
e world.bear it in mind that the only fee that you are to send is sum of $ =
205.00 Usd
for the creating of your On-line Bank account for you,s=
o you are to contact them along with the payment information for easy proce=
dure of this transfer.below is the information that you are going to use to=
send the fee through western union or money gram money transfer.<=
br>
Receiver's Name:........ JOHN ANANWODE
Country:*.....=
............... Benin Republic
City:*....................... Coton=
ou
Amount:*................. $205.00 Usd
Text Question:*.=
...... Code
Text Answer:*........... 00229
Get Back t=
o them with the payment information as below
Sender's Name:*..=
........
MTCN:*..........
I am looking forward to hea=
r from you once you receive this email for clear confirmation of your files=
.
Thanks For Your Co-operation
Bar.Patrick Williamswww.ecobank136@yahoo.com
(FHCE)
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Anti-fraud resources:
