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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:
- 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:
- "swift card payment center" (this phrase is often used in the ATM card payment scam)
- "card center will send you an atm card" (this phrase is often used in the ATM card payment scam)
- "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.
Fraud email example:
From: Mr.Frank Antony <info@itvls.com>
Reply-To: <ecobenk-benin.inf@foxmail.com>
Date: Sun, 2 Oct 2016 14:01:10 -0400
Subject: ECO BANK PLC ( INTERNATIONAL SETTLEMENT ATM ) URGENT REPLY
Mr.Frank Antony
Eco Bank Benin
Rue du Gouverneur Bayol
P.O. box:01 B.P. 1280 Cotonou – Benin
Phone:Tél : (229) 61 633 292
Fax:Fax : (229) 21 31 3 85
Attention dear beneficiary.
This is to notify you that we have arranged your payment of $5.5
Million USD through swift card payment center Asia pacific, this card center will send you an ATM card which you will use to withdraw your money in any ATM machine in any part of the world at the maximum rate of $5,000.00 us dollars (five Thousand United State Dollars) per day.
Therefore do not hesitate to contact ECO Bank For Africa Plc {ECO Bank Plc} and also re-confirm the following information as listed below:
1.YOUR FULL NAME: __________________
2.YOUR HOME ADDRESS: _________
3.YOUR DIRECT PHONE NUMBER: __________
4.A COPY OF YOUR PICTURE: _________
5.YOUR COUNTRY: _____________
6.AGE AND SEX: _________
MR FRANK ANTONY CUSTOMER SERVICES DEPT ATM CARD INTERNATIONAL SETTLEMENT,DEPARTMENT ECO BANK PLC.
Direct line: +229-61 633 292
The Bank has been mandated to issue out your payment and you have to stop any further communication with any other person(s) or office(s) to avoid any hitches in receiving your ATM Card.
Note that because of impostors, The Bank also issued you their code of conduct, which is (1488) so you have to indicate this code when contacting the ATM card center by using it as your subject.
ECO BANK PLC INTERNATIONAL SETTLEMENT ATM
reply urgent
Mr.Frank Antony
Eco Bank Benin
Rue du Gouverneur Bayol
P.O. box:01 B.P. 1280 Cotonou – Benin
Phone:Tél : (229) 61 633 292
Fax:Fax : (229) 21 31 3 85
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Anti-fraud resources:
