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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:
- "the diplomat " ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned 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: "John Howard" (may be fake)
Date: Mon, 26 Nov 2012 13:10:18 +0100
Subject: Re. Did you authorize your account to be substituted?.
Hello
My name is John Howard; Director of Payment/Reconcillations African Development Bank (ADB) Cotonou, Benin. Please confirm this information as soon as possible. Did you Send one Mr. Frank O'Neal from USA to come and claim your outstanding contract fund valued at USD5.5 million?.
This man was directed to my office by one Mr. John Adams the diplomat that was suppose to deliver your fund to you. Please as a matter of urgency, get back to me immediately before things go wrong. He said you have asked us to transfer the USD5.5 million into Mr. Frank O'Neal account which details are below.
Name on Account: Frank O'Neal.
Bank: Chase Bank.
Address: 270 Park Ave. New York, NY 10017-2070 USA
Acct.#: 10102436562071.
Routing#: 053207766.
Swift Code: pnbpus76.
He is trying to pay all the outstanding charges on your fund and claim it.
Should we go ahead?. If not, do reach us immediately so that we tell you what to do and get your fund wire to you within the next two weeks.
John Howard.
Director.
Payments/Reconcillations.
African Development Bank .
Cotonou Benin.
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Anti-fraud resources:
