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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:
- "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. )
- "mtcn" (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. )
- "united state of america" (this email uses bad English)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "banck_ofamerica28@xnmsn.cn" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- "banck_ofamerica28@xnmsn.cn" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- 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.
Fraud email example:
From: BANK OF AMERICA <helenhu2418@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: banck_ofamerica28@xnmsn.cn
Date: Thu, 30 Sep 2010 03:42:53 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: FROM BANK OF AMERICA
P {
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BANK OF
AMERICA
External Review Committee on Debt
Statistics
And fund audit Balance Debt
IMF-World Bank Collaboration
2195 SW 8TH ST
MIAMI, FL
33135
UNITED STATE OF
AMERICA.
Email: ( banck_ofamerica28@xnmsn.cn )
OUR
REFCODE:BSEL/773/AWN/021/08
ATTENTION: BENEFICIARY,
Good day to you and your family over
there, I hope all is well with them in good
faith.
The management of this bank have receive your
mail and the content is well noted. we have good news to inform you in regard of
the payment on your own benefit and quick to get your total fund of $850.000.00 transfer to your account without
delays,
well we wish to let you know that the amount
you needed to send to enable us wire transfer your fund is sum $150. 00 united state dollars to enable
us proceed to international monetary fund benin to obtain the
needed fund certificate before the said fund will hit your bank account.and you
will send it to benin republic as the origination
of the said fund.
Therefore.your advise to follow the instruction
immediately and go to western union and send the requested fee immediately
because the president of bank of America instructed us to let you know that we
should inform you to come up with the remaining balance very urgent $150. 00 dollar only and your total
fund $850.000.00 ( Eight Hundred
and Fifty Thousand
United State Dollars ) will be directly been transfer to your account within
1hours as soon as you send the half of the fee $150. 00. You are expected to reconfirm
your bank account where you want the fund to be
transferred.
eMAIL US ( banck_ofamerica28@xnmsn.cn
)
Now you are urgently advised to make the
payment through western union money transfer
with the
name of our accountant officer MR.
CHEDOM CHUKWUEBUKA.
Receiver____________MR. CHEDOM CHUKWUEBUKA
Country______________ Benin
Republic.
City_____________ Cotonou
Text Question_________ When?
Answer_____________ One hour
Amount_______________ $150. 00
Note that your fund will hit to your bank
account immediately we receive the payment information because this is your last
chance to get your fund without spending anymore money again.Therefore you
advise to kindly send the fee immediately and get back to us with the Mtcn
Number immediately you receive this message.
Thanks for your kind
understanding
BEST REGARDS
DR.AINSWORTH SMITH
INTERNATIONAL MANAGER
FROM BANK OF AMERICA
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