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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.
- 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:
- "million united states 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)
- "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- 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.
- gbengageorge@aim.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: GBENGA GEORGE <h2077@btinternet.com>
Reply-To: gbengageorge@aim.com
Date: Tue, 18 May 2010 08:42:20 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: HELP
Dear: Sir,
I am Mr. Gbenga Bode George the son of Mr. Olabode George, former chairman of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) who was convicted on 28 October 2009 as a result of awarding of contracts to the tune of about N100 billion from the Federal Government of Nigeria. You can confirm the genuineness of this news: http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:HFuhXbefD60J:234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/Home/5474972-146/Bode_George%27s_conviction___.csp+bode+george+information&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk
Since then, the Federal Government of Nigeria has confiscated all my father’s properties including companies. It was only yesterday that my father called me as the news came to him in jail that the Federal Government of Nigeria under the control of the new president Dr Jonathan Goodluck want to freeze his accounts abroad. I humbly request of you to assist me transfer this fund totaling $75, 000, 000 (Seventy Five Million United States Dollars) into your account in your country. I am in dire need of this help so that the money my father has saved in life is not confiscated.
If you would assist me to transfer the fund to your country l am ready to pay you %15 of the value of the fund for your agency and for other expenses you might incur in the course of this transaction. I am ready to transfer the money immediately your authenticity is verified and ascertained by my father's attorney. Also, all the money and whatever investment plans the family might come up with therein shall be entrusted to you only if you prove a reliable and trustworthy partner.
Waiting your urgent reply via email: gbengageorge@aim.com
Thanks.
Yours Sincerely
Gbenga Bode George
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