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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:
- "western union" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "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.
- Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
- 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.
- infoecob@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "International Monetary Fund (IMF)" <infofile1@peoplepc.com>
Reply-To: "International Monetary Fund (IMF)" <infoecob@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 23 Oct 2010 13:38:09 +0100 (GMT+01:00)
Subject: Fund Transfer Details.
(INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUNDS DEPARTMENTS) BENIN REPUBLIC
ADDRESS; No. 208B PETECH AVENUE COTONOU REPUBLIC OF BENIN
ATTENTION: Beneficiary,
How are you doing, I hope all is well with you and the family ? This is to inform you that the I.M.F executive members held a meeting yesterday with the ECO BANK DEPARTMENT based on your funds $950,000.00 USD which was approved by the (IMF) (International Monetary Fund) to be transfered to you via western union money transfer and it has not been yet transfered to you. So we conclude that the funds should be transfered to you direct into your bank account through the ECO BANK DEPARTMENT.
Meanwhile we have taken out our proper duties concerning on any foreign transfers which have not been done in this country to be done with immediate effect.
So therefore they agreed with the International Monetary Funds that your funds will be transfer to you without any further delay. You are advised to contact them immediately and provide to them your bank details where to transfer the funds to you such as,
Your full name-------------
Your country---------------
Your bank name-------------
Your bank account----------
Your routing no------------
Your phone number----------
Here is their contact address.
ECO BANK PLC
Mr. Mike Odili
E-mail: infoecob@gmail.com
Phone: (+229) 6615 1491
Send this informations to them which will enable them in transferring the funds into your bank account. Finally make sure you notify us back once they have transfer the funds to you.
Best regards
Hon. Richard Chukwu.
Managing Director
(I.M.F) Benin Republic
________________________________________
PeoplePC Online
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Anti-fraud resources:
