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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:
- "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. )
- "registration 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. )
- "international remittance department" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
- 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.
- jamesokoh228@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: =?UTF-8?B?TXIgSmFtZXMgT2tvaA==?= <editorialdelasciencias@infovia.com.ar>
Date:
Subject:
From: Desk Of Dr James OKoh,
The Director Of EcoBank Benin Republic
Y=
OUR REF/PAYMENTS CODE: 06654
+22999266244
(jamesokoh228@yahoo.com)
$10.5MILLION USD.
Attention:
Today is Friday being=
30th of December, 2016. This is to inform you that on the 4th of January i=
s the last date for you to send the registration fee to enable me assist yo=
u register your fund with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) where the w=
ill issue you the International Transfer Coverage Certificate that will aut=
horize Eco Bank International Remittance Department to effect the transfer =
of your compensation fund into your bank account without any further delay.=
Your fund will credit into your bank account within 48 hours you se=
nd the registration fee which is $100 .The problem which you have is that y=
ou have not ask your self why you have not be able to receive your fund, th=
e answer is that your fund have not been registered with the Intern atonal =
Monetary Fund (IMF). The United Nations and United State Government In Coll=
aboration with World Bank concluded that before such amount of money can tr=
ansfer to any country the beneficiary have to register his/her fund with th=
e International Monetary Fund to enable them issue you the International Tr=
ansfer Coverage Certificate that will enable the International Remittance D=
epartment to credit your fund into your bank account.
I advice you t=
o follow the United Nations and United State Government In Collaboration wi=
th World Bank instruction to register your fund with the International Mone=
tary Fund before it too late. It will take only but 48hours to enable your =
fund reflect into your bank account.
Use the below information to send t=
he registration fee as soon as you receive this mail.
Receiver =
Orakwue Favour Chidimma
Country Nigeria
City Owerri
Q=
uestion who?
Answer me
Amount 100
Sen=
d the money through money gram send the reference number direct to this mai=
l box immediately you send the registration fee today.
Yours faithfu=
lly,
( jamesokoh228@yahoo.com )
+22999266244
Mr James Okoh,
Com=
pensation Payment Department.
Eco Bank Plc
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Anti-fraud resources:
