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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 friend" (a common phrase found 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.
- drnewtonbenson@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "MR. FRANK GOWON" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <frankgowon@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 17 May 2014 15:45:35 +0100
Subject: YOUR FUND IS READY TO BE TRANSFERED INTO YOUR ACCOUNT NOW
Attention : Dear Friend
My name is Mr. Frank Gowon , I am very happy to inform you about my success in getting my Fund transferred into my bank account with a help of one (DR.BENSON NEWTON) the Managing Director of (GUARANTY TRUST BANK).I did not forget all the efforts and expenses you made in the past,
Now I want you to contact him with your information to enable them open an online account for you and wire your money into the account where you can transfer it into your personal bank account because I have told them about you and they ask me to contact you and inform you about it because they have been waiting for you for some months now.
His Contact Information of the Bank.
BANK NAME: GUARANTY TRUST BANK
CONTACT E-MAIL: drnewtonbenson@gmail.com
CONTACT PERSON: DR.NEWTON BENSON
I want you to fill out this information and send it to him accordinly.
Your full name______
Your address________
Your country________
Your age____________
Your occupation_____
Your Phone number___
Note that if you did not send him the above information complete, he will not be able to open your online account because he has to be sure that it is you.
Yours Faithfully,
MR. FRANK GOWON
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Anti-fraud resources:
