|
|
joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
|
|
"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:
- "federal republic of benin" (Benin, Cameroon, etc. are no Federal Republics, unlike Nigeria where this type of scam was invented)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs.Cynthia Iwana" <onuorahman2016@gmail.com>
Reply-To: "Mrs.Cynthia Iwana" <paymentcenter134@yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, 12 Sep 2017 19:01:24 +0900 (JST)
Subject: ATM DEPARTMENT.
Attention:
After due vetting and evaluation of your file that was sent to us by the Bank Of Africa office Benin Republic. Under the direct authorization of the African Union in Conjunction with the United Nations, we wish to notify you that your Atm visa card will be deliver to you via dhl Delivery company to your home address as all means to receive your Fund through Banks had failed. This office has an instruction to see to the immediate release of fund that has beenpending in a Atm Card in our security vault. We were meant to understand from our findings that you have been going through hard times and passing through a lot of difficulties in seeing to the release of your fund which amounts to (US$4.5M). This has been the handwork of some dubious elements in Eco Bank benin republic. We advice that you stop further communication with any correspondence from anywhere concerning this atm card, you don't have to pass through any difficulties to receive your fund, as
you have meet up with the whole requirements. This was the reason this package was kept in our security vault for easy delivery and conclusion of this transaction.
The management of this transaction do not want you to pass through wire transfer, which you have gone through off and on and this fund was not paid to you, but for you recived your atm card at your door step and see your fund with your two eyes. Meanwhile, you advice to make it possible to send the sum 189 dollras in our branch office in federal republic of Benin as the origination of the Atm card been the security keeping.therefore you are required to provide your delivery address such as; your FULL NAME AND HOME ADDRESS to enable us complete the delivery to you address To avoid wrong delivery please re-confirm
Mrs.Cynthia Iwana
ATM DEPARTMENT.
|
Anti-fraud resources:
