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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:
- 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:
- "ecowas " (the name of a person or institution often appearing 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: "Ecobank Plc." <officeconsultant@rediffmail.com>
Reply-To: ecobankintlplc@rediffmail.com
Date: Tue, 15 Jun 2010 17:58:31 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Attention; Beneficiary,
Eco bank of Africa foreign operations/transfer dept.
From; the desk of Mr Offong Ambah
Managing Director/Chief Executive,
Attention; Beneficiary,
This is to inform you that our bank Ecobank plc received final instruction from Our correspondence bank which is Ecowas bank to transfer the sum of $10.5m Usd only in your favor in respect of your overdue contract/inheritance payment.
Our Bank hereby contacting you to fill up the following information’s below to enable us process the funds transfer.
FULL NAME ...................................................
ADDRESS......................................................
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN..........................................
OCCUPATION...................................................
AGE...........................................................
SEX...........................................................
YOUR TELEPHONE NUMBER(MOBILE).................................
NAME OF BANK AND ACCOUNT DETAILS..............................
ANY PERSONAL ID IF AVAILABLE..................................
As soon as those information’s filled received for confirmation as the real beneficiary of the funds, you will be updated with the details on how you will receive your funds payment.
Thanks for your co-operation in this transfer transaction.
Your's in service.
Emmanuel Oge
personal assitance to
Mr. Offong Ambah
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Anti-fraud resources:
