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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:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- ",000,000" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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.
- bk.financial@kimo.com (Kimo; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: Dani Jimaima <dani_jimaima@yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 16 Aug 2012 04:47:06 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: We discovery your funds.
Dear Esteemed Customer,
I want to bring to your knowledge our discovery of funds worth $1,000,000.00 USD deposited by THE UNITED NATIONS INTERNATIONAL GRANTS DEPARTMENT over 4 Months ago for you to invest in any profitable field in your country and till date you have not come forward to claim or transfer your funds we need your confirmation to transfer the funds into your home account.
We discovered that in the initial fund transfer there was a mistake in the destination and it got to our branch in your name instead of your Country and since then we have been searching for the original owner until we got your new email and full name. Please confirm the information below for correction or mistaken identity. Finally send an identification of yourself for further verification and transfer.
Full Name:__________
Address:____________
Direct Telephone Number:__________
Sex:_______________
Occupation:________
Age:_______________
Thanks for banking with us.
E-mail: bk.financial@kimo.com
MR. OBI WILLIAMS
TRANSFER DEPARTMENT
FINANCIAL BANK OF BENIN.
Outside call: +229-68041679
Whiten Benin: 99221908
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Anti-fraud resources:
