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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.
- 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:
- "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- 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.
- info.treasurydepartbenin2022@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Treasury Department Office <filesoffice255@gmail.com>
Reply-To: info.treasurydepartbenin2022@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 20 Mar 2023 17:15:00 +0100
Subject: Attention Beneficiary:
Attention Beneficiary:
I am here to alert you on the cancellation that is going on right now
in treasury department office Benin concerning every unclaimed fund.
Are you aware that your funds is among the funds that have been
brought here to be canceled and your ownership will be changed on the
process and your fund in total will be diverted to the government
treasury account with a report that you rejected the fund just because
transfer fee.
Your urgent attention is needed here if you really want this fund and
not to be canceled as it was reported, you have to reply back to this
Email: info.treasurydepartbenin2022@gmail.com.
I am waiting for your urgent reply.
Thanks.
Mr. Michael Toure.
Treasury Department, International
Wire Transfers, Federal Ministry of Finance Republic of Benin.
Telephone:+229-68651555
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Anti-fraud resources:
