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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:
- "hundred thousand united state 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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "dear beneficiary," (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
- "foreign exchange" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
- "international remittance department" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
- "charles c. soludo" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "certified bank draft" (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
- "federal republic of benin" (Benin, Cameroon, etc. are no Federal Republics, unlike Nigeria where this type of scam was invented)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- 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.
- j_mkk2000@myway.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "charlesudo57 Gazeta.pl" <charlesudo57@gazeta.pl>
Date: Sat, 28 Jun 2008 19:52:14 -0700
Subject: PAYMENT BY CERTIFIED BANK DRAFT
* THE PRESIDENCY
FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF BENIN
DEBT RECONCILIATION ON FOREIGN PAYMENT
PRESIDENT OFFICE COTONOU.*
* EMAIL:(
**j_mkk2000@myway.com*<j_mkk2000@myway.com>
*)*
*
DEAR BENEFICIARY,*
* PAYMENT BY CERTIFIED BANK DRAFT {$6.5M}*
*In our response to instruction from the Federal Government of Benin
Republic, to release
and pay all Foreign Contract funds to them, I Prof,Charles C.Soludo The New
Governor of
Central Bank of Benin Republic inconjuction with the undersigned authorities
on this day
issue the release of your Contract part payment of US$6.5m (Six million,
five hundred
thousand United State dollars) by Certified Bank DRAFT*
*As a result of Terrorist Attack in America and its Global effect, the
Federal Government
of Benin Republic has directed that all foreign payment at this time that
involved huge
sums of money should be paid by DRAFT as measure to check Terrorist Account
Operation.*
*In line with this development, I have therefore signed your part payment
DRAFT covering
(US$6.5m ONLY ) has been issued in your favour to be drawn from your bank
due to lack of
enough foreign exchange in the country.
As a matter of urgency, you are hereby advise to contact THE NEW DIRECTOR
Rev,John jacob
of the
International Remittance Department of Central Bankof Benin Republic for the
mailing of
your Draft. Contact him on*
* ( **j_mkk2000@myway.com* <j_mkk2000@myway.com>*) and forward your address
where you would like the Draft to be
sent including your phone and fax numbers.
Congratulations!
Yours faithfully,
Prof, Charles C. Soludo.
(Gov, Central Bank of Benin Republic).*
* Rev,John jacob*
Anti-fraud resources:
