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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:
- "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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- 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: "\"Hon. Morgan Steve\" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <standardinsurance-trustbk@outlook.com>
Date: Sat, 13 Aug 2016 06:04:51 -0700
Subject: Fund Release Date: 12/08/2016
Atten: Beneficiary
The Board of Federal Ministry of Finance Benin Republic are hereby to notify you about our recent agreement with the Federal Government Republic of Benin to handle all their foreign contract payments. Based on this development we have verified your contract/inheritance file and discovered reasons why you are yet to receive your inherited funds of ($4.5Million) Four Million Five Hundred Thousand United State Dollars After the Meeting held on Thursday 12th of urgust, 2016. Between Foreign Beneficiary Representatives and U/N Representatives, Based on this development we have verified your contract/inheritance file and discovered reasons why you are yet to receive your payment. It is because of irregularities and complications discovered on your payment file by our technical experts in respect to your contract /inheritance payment requirements which have just been duly rectified.
Now The decision we have already taken is that your fund will now be transferred through online banking and you will only be given the login and password to your account, and anybody you so wishes to represent you, you can then give the person your password and pin by yourself. I don’t know how possible it will be for you to do that soonest, So we urges you contact approve Bank with below.
STANDARD INSURANCE TRUST BANK.
TEL/: +229 64570830
FAX/: +229 96421137
MANAGING DIRECTOR: ROBIN HANSON
Email: standardinsurance-trustbk@outlook.com
Waiting to hear from you as soon as you confirm response from Approve Bank.
Yours in service:
Financial Minister On Foreign Contractor
Payment Office Benin Hon. Morgan Steve.
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