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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:
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Ben Bright." <riccardo260470@alice.it> (may be fake)
Reply-To: atmpaymentdepbj@seznam.cz
Date: Fri, 13 Jan 2017 06:13:18 -0800
Subject: Attention! Dear
Urgent Attention!
This is official message from the central bank of Benin Republic to
inform
you
that we have verified your contract file and found out why
you have not
received your fund is because you have not fulfilled the obligations
given to
you in respect of your fund.
secondly we have been informed that you are still dealing with the none
officials in the bank all your attempt to secure the release of the fund
to
you. we wish to advice you that such an illegal act like this have to
stop if
you wishes to receive your fund.
We have decided to bring a solution to your problem, right now we have
arranged
your payment through our swift card payment center, 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, but the maximum is one thousand five hundred
dollars
per day, so if you like to receive your fund this way
please let us know and also send the following information.
1) your full name (2) your phone and fax number (3) address were you
want us
to send the atm card and your nearest airport, also indicate if you
wish to
receive payment either by wire transfer to your account or by the atm
card.
the atm card payment center has been mandated to issue out
{us$21.3million u.s
dollars} as part payment for this fiscal year 2017. also for your
information
you have to stop any further communication with any other person(s) or
office
(s). this is to avoid any hitches in finalizing the release of the fund
to
you.
email back as soon as you receive this important message for further
direction
in this regards and also update me on any development.
regards
Ben Bright.
Director of operations
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Anti-fraud resources:
