419 scam: Mr George Venizelos <boinfow@gmail.com> Attention,

joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet

Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days

Home

About Us

Spam

419/Nigeria

Fraud

Contact

"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:

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:
- "security keeping fee" (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. )
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "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.

Fraud email example:

From: Mr George Venizelos <boinfow@gmail.com>
Reply-To: Mr George Venizelos <georgevenizelos@sbcglobal.net>
Date: Tue, 17 Nov 2015 02:32:07 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Attention,

Attention,

I am Mr. George Venizelos, the FBI representative at the atm payment center. I believe that my superior, Mr. James B. Comey Jr, must have already introduced me to you. so that you can know who you are directly dealing with in person.

This is to acknowledge the receipt of the order from the Federal Ministry of Finance, in respect with the provision act of decree 114 of the 1999 constitution; I am directed to inform you that your payment verification and confirmations is correct. Therefore, we are happy to inform you that arrangements have been concluded to effect your payment as soon as possible and in our bid to transparency.

It is my pleasure to inform you that ATM Card Number;0414003298740312 have been approved in your favor. Your Personal Identification Number is (15011). The ATM Card value is two million, five hundred thousand usd only. You are advised that a maximum withdrawal value of $10,000.00 USD is permitted on withdrawal per Day and we are duly Inter Switch and you can make withdrawal in any Inter Switch location and ATM Center of your choice.

NOTE: the IMF and the Finance Ministry insisted that you pay for the security keeping fee only of your ATM CARD, which will cost you only $109.00 USD to cut down travel expenses, while the nominated courier company that will carry out with the delivery to your door step. A sum of $109 payment has to be made to this office to effect the delivery of your ATM CARD at your possession.

Also below is the information which you will use in sending down the Security fees through MONEY GRAM. note that (ONYEBOSI JOSEPH CHIKELUO) works as my account officer, so direct the payment to him.

Receiver name: ONYEBOSI JOSEPH CHIKELUO.
Receiver City: COTONOU.
Receiver Country: BENIN.
Text Question: COLOUR.
Text Answer: BLUE.
Amount to be sent: $109.00 USD

Send me the Reference Number:................. and Sender Name:........................, After making the payment today.

I await your swift response.

Mr George Venizelos.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam