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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. )
- "dear beneficiary," (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
- "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.
- atmdpatmentcenter@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: NOTIFICATION OF YOUR ATM MASTER CARD <danielpenny@bellsouth.net>
Reply-To: atmdpatmentcenter@hotmail.com
Date: Tue, 16 Nov 2010 05:49:01 -0800 (PST)
Subject: NOTIFICATION OF YOUR PAYMENT VIA ATM MASTER CARD
Dear Beneficiary,
We are happy to inform you after verification that your total sum of US$2.7Million which was originally in the Bank for transfer through Western Union has been recovered for payment via ATM cash card system after all attempts to pay you through Western union as we recently found out that it failed.
We have contacted the paying institute (Oceanic Bank Benin) on your behalf and they have brought a new solution to the problem by re-issue ATM CARD and load your US$2.7Million fund into the Card for you to easily withdraw at any ATM Machine worldwide. You are now have the lawful right to claim the fund as we agreed with the Paying Bank to re-issue and load the fund into ATM CARD and dispatch to your address without further problem.
This is to by-pass all government agencies, departments and ministries who impose obnoxious levies and charges thereby causing delay in the receipt of your funds. We made several attempts to contact you by telephone and e-mail in respect of this matter.
You should therefore re-confirm your details and forward to the paying Bank on below information for the immediate processing of your ATM Cash Card and dispatch to your address:
(1) Your Full Name: ..................
(2) Full residential address: .........
(3) Phone And Fax Number: .......
(4) Occupation: ......................
(5) Personal identification: ..........
(6) Present Country: ......
(7) Age: ...........
OCEANIC BANK BENIN
Head, Card Service Department
Contact Person: Dr. Paul Donald
E-mail: atmdpatmentcenter@hotmail.com
Thanks for your understanding while wait to hear from you.
Yours respectfully
Mr. Dennis Joseph
Public Relation Officer
Ministry Of Economic & Finances
BP 393 Cotonou, République du Bénin
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Anti-fraud resources:
