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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:
- 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 mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
Fraud email example:
From: Customer Care Department <westernunionc35@yahoo.com>
Date: Fri, 21 Sep 2012 01:04:06 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re:Dear Beneficiary............Fund Transfer Update
Send Money
Worldwide
WESTERN
UNION MONEY TRANSFER WORLD WIDE.
BOITE POSTALE : BP 1180 - COTONOU BENIN REP
Tel:
+229-6631-6691 Fax:
+229-6631-0000
Our Ref: FBOA /017521/Brp
Date. 21st / 09 /
2012
Dear Beneficiary
This is to inform you that the international monetary
Fund has finally accepted to release your money by paying to them the
total sum of $100.000 out of the $10.5 million meant to be transferred
to your account in the united state, because of this reason you are
advised to get back to us immediately you receive this massage to enable
give you more details on how to make the transfer sum of $100.000 to
your account through our offshore bank in the united state.
Note
that your urgent response regarding to this massage will accelerate your
services in our bank, as you have been informed, the bank will deduct
all her transfer charges from your fund during the process of the
transfer once your account has been activated.
Thanks
Yours faithfully
Mrs.Susan
Egobia
Customer Care Department
Finance Bank of African Plc
Cotonou, Benin Republic.
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Anti-fraud resources:
