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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:
- "western union" (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. )
- "million dollars" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "www.ecobakonlinetransfer@outlook.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
Fraud email example:
From: "MRS. VERONICA WILSO" <revjackchukwu@gmail.com>
Reply-To: www.ecobakonlinetransfer@outlook.com
Date: Sat, 23 Mar 2019 14:19:11 +0100
Subject: Dear Beneficiary:
Attention My Dear:
Dear esteemed customer, we are informing you of our successful
arrangement to transfer your full compensation winning fund of
$2.5million dollars via new banking system of online with ECO BANK
Benin which is affiliated with world bank of Switzerland, The money is
no more to be deliver to you by Western Union/Money gram ATM
/DHL/FedEx/UPS due to many unforeseen fees and charges demanded by
them this $2.5m of yours is now in the ECO BANK Custody under the
care and control of MR BENJAMIN IHEKERE okay.
Be inform that this banker will set up a new overseas account from
their bank and shall provide you with the account information which
shall use to access the account anywhere in the whole word, none
residence account is what they will open for you and all your total
fund shall appear in the account once you have log into the account
with the account information they will give you after they have set up
the online bank account, This account shall take them only 3hours to
be opened on your behalf after they have gotten your re-confirmation
information sequel as it's writing below:
Full name:
City:
Country
Address:
mobile and office phone number:
Passport number:
Marital status:
Gender:
Age:
Occupation:
Endeavor to send the bankers the above listed information with their
contact information below:
BANK MANAGER: . MR BENJAMIN IHEKERE
EMAIL: www.ecobakonlinetransfer@outlook.com
Contact them with above information to ensure they set up online bank
account bearing your name for you to access and get the money
transferred into your nominated account of your choice over there,Give
us an update once you have successfully receive your fund $2.5million
into your account any where you wish,
YOUR FUND WILL BE TRANSFER TO YOU IN NEXT 45 MINUTE TODAY
SINCERELY YOUR
MRS. VERONICA WILSO
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Anti-fraud resources:
