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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:
- "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- "million us 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)
- 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.
- securetrustbplc91@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Secure Trust Bank Plc <securetrustbplc91@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 22 Mar 2021 06:11:56 -1200
Subject: MONEY TRANSFER APPROVED
Secure Trust Bank Plc
Corporate Address:St Helen's
1 Undershaft London,
EC3A 8AB United Kingdom
Tel:+44 7441 450 543
Email: info@strusbl.com
Alternative Email: securetrustbplc91@gmail.com
Ref: Payment Approved Notification.
Dear Sir/Madam.
Instruction was given to us this morning from the IMF (International
Monetary Fund) to transfer your overdue payment of $7.5 Million US
dollars to your account. In view of this, you should send us your
Banking detail with the transfer processing vat fee of $50 only to
enable us commence on the fund transfer through Bank-to-Bank wire
transfer .We really appreciate your understanding and patience until
this time.
Yours in service.
Mr.Aaron Barry
(Secretary Secure Trust Bank)
Secure Trust Bank Plc
Tel:+44 7441 450 543
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Anti-fraud resources:
