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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:
- "hundred thousand united states 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)
- "fund beneficiary" (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)
- "executive governor" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: BANK OF GHANA <henrymurphy.nith@gmail.com>
Reply-To: infobog2021@gmail.com
Date: Fri, 19 Feb 2021 14:18:39 -0800
Subject: Re:Dear Fund Beneficiary.
BANK OF GHANA
International Transfer
Processing Department
(Head Office Annex)
One Thorpe Road,
P. O. Box GP 2674
Accra, Ghana
Tel: +233-200669327
Dear Fund Beneficiary,
I am Dr.Ernest Kwamina Yedu Addison,Governor,Bank Of Ghana.I am writing to
inform you about your over-due funds that was brought here in my office to
arrange and facilitate the immediate release of the amount of
$4.500.000.00 ( Four Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars
Only ) into your bank account as stated which you know that this
transaction has taken longer than expected.
I look forward to your response.
Dr.Ernest Kwamina Yedu Addison
Executive Governor
Bank Of Ghana.
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Anti-fraud resources:
