419 scam: "Thomas Bluero" <voover@aol.com> Dear Friend,

joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet

Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days

Home

About Us

Spam

419/Nigeria

Fraud

Contact

"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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "top secret" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "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.
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.
- +22999747242 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "Thomas Bluero" <voover@aol.com>
Reply-To: tomrbluer@gmail.com
Date: Thu, 09 Mar 2017 00:52:17 -0800
Subject: Dear Friend,

Hello My Dear Friend,

Good day to you. It is my pleasure to write you today, I am Mr. Thomas Bluero, I work with United Bank for Africa, Benin Rep. (UBA). I got your contact via a classified directory of business specialists of your Countryâ€™s economy. I hope that you will not expose or betray the trust and confidence that am about to repose in you for the benefit of both our families, am in need of your help as a foreigner to transfer the sum of US$10.350 Million (Ten Million, Three Hundred and Fifty Thousand United States Dollars) into your bank account, risk is completely 100 % free.

Please, I will like you to keep this proposal as a top secret or delete it from your mail box if you are not interested. Also note that you will have 40% of the above mentioned sum if you agree to transact this business with me, while 60% will be for me. I will give you full details of this transaction immediately you notify me of your interest by sending your data to me. Waiting for your early response & you can only reply me through my private email address.

Your Full Name:

Your address and Country:

Your Age:

Direct Phone Number:

Copy of your passport or ID card.

Waiting for your positive response.

Thanks and best regards

Mr. Thomas Bluero
(Senior Account Supervisor)
UBA BENIN
Cotonou, Benin
Phone: +229 99747242

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam