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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:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "hundred thousand united state 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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "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.
- 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.
- atmsettlementcenter@gawab.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Oceanic Bank Plc <atmcard@atlas.cz>
Reply-To: atmsettlementcenter@gawab.com
Date: Tue, 19 Jul 2011 23:21:57 +0100 (BST)
Subject: Re: Urgent ATM Debit Cash Payment System.
From the desk of:
MRS. VIVIAN SOLANGE KUTI
International Settlement Dept.
Oceanic bank international plc
Immediate ATM DEBIT Cash Card Payment Notification
Notification of payment by ATM Master Credit Card
We hereby officially notifying you about the present arrangement to pay you, your over due fund of (3.5m )Three million five hundred thousand united state dollars through(Master Express Credit Card) This arrangement was initiated / constituted by the World Bank and Paris Club, due to fraudulent activities going on within the African Region and around the world.
The World Bank/IMF and Paris Club introduced this payment arrangement as to enable beneficiaries to receive their fund without any interference. the Master Express Credit Card was contracted and powered by GOLD CARD WORLD WIDE.
Reconfirm the following information to us for Security reason.
1. FULL NAMES...................................
2. PHYSICAL ADDRESS WERE YOU WANT THEM TO SEND THE ATM...................
3. DIRECT PHONE AND FAX NUMBERS.................
4. YOUR AGE.....................................
5. YOUR CURRENT OCCUPATION......................
6. ATTACH COPY OF YOUR IDENTIFICATION...........
Upon the receipt of this mail we are going to load your fund into the Master Express Credit Card and send a scan copy of the card to you before we will proceed to dispatch the card directly to your nominated physical address so you absolutely have nothing to worry about all we need is your Prompt Response and Co-operation by Gods Grace we will have a successful Transaction.
You are advised to Reconfirm the above required information’s to the ATM (Automated Teller Machines) Card payment settlement center in Cotonou, Republic of Benin for the programming of the information in the micro chip compartment as selective payment. Contact undersign through this email requesting for your ATM (Automated Teller Machines) Card and the pin number.
BANK NAME: OCEANIC BANK BENIN.
ADDRESS: AVENUE JEAN PAUL 11 02 BP 0777 COTONOU REPUBLIC OF BENIN.
TEL: (229) 96 20 76 38 FAX: (229) 21 33 02 45 Telex: 4445- SWIFT: AFRIOCBJ.
CONTACT PERSON: DR. AKA KWAME.
EMAIL ADDRESS: atmsettlementcenter@gawab.com
We awaiting for your immediate response.
CONTACT DR. AKA KWAME
ATM PAYMENT DIRECTOR
OCAENIC BANK REPUBLIC OF BENIN.
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