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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:
- "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "transfer of your funds" (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)
- "top secret" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "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.
- info.imf_finance@superposta.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: <rakabugo@yahoo.com.ph>
Date: Tue, 11 Sep 2012 06:13:56 +0200
Subject: REF#: FUNDS RECOVERY/PAYMENT.
>From The Desk Of: Mr. Roland Akabugo
CEO/Director of Finance International Monetary Fund IMF
Cotonou-Benin Republic CHAPTER.
Direct E-Mail: info.imf_finance@superposta.com
Attn. Beneficiary
Dear Sir/Madam,
My name is Mr. Roland Akabugo. I am the Auditor General ATTACHED to Federal Ministry of Finance here in Cotonou Benin Republic under appointment of International Monetary Fund IMF. I am contacting due to some information I unravel from the computer department concerning an amount deposited here in your favor. I discovered that this funds have not been paid to you after all department and authorities have approved the release of the funds to you.
Your representatives and lawyers misrepresented your interest for their selfish interest thereby made the whole transaction complex that the Honorable Minister of Finance could not absorb the rigors attached by your so call representatives and lawyers. As the Auditor General IMF/Ministry of Finance here in Cotonou- Benin Republic, I have discussed with The Minister himself and I can use my veto to re-address the in-proper documentations and have the Telex Department which is under my control transfer the funds to you immediately without further delays because the board of directors have already given their approval.
This you have to keep as a top secret to ensure that nothing hitches the transfer of your funds this time around. The value of your funds since the past two years is US$28Million. I have been able to view all of your account details and secured a deposit slip for the Telegraphic Transfer to your account in your designated bank account as below which the first Installment transfer of US$6.000.000.00Million is supposed to be in your account within 48hours at the latest.
Please Re-Confirm if the banking details below is still valid for the transfer:
HSBC BANK GERMANY
CODE: 24091907
ACCT#: 9647011384
BILL JACKSON DOUGLAS
YOUR PERSONAL DETAILS:
Full Names:
Address:
Telephone:
Mobile:
Fax:
E-Mail:
Copy of Your ID or Passport.
The Ministry of Finance have approved these funds in your favor since the beginning of the FIRST QUARTER of this Fiscal Year 2012.
Your Immediate Cooperation will enable me to expedite action on this in a professional and timely fashion.
With Best Regards,
Mr. Roland Akabugo
Auditor General IMF/F. M. FINANCE
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