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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:
- "00,000.00" (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 of america" (this email uses bad English)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Bank of West African <michele.ferrari.10@alice.it>
Reply-To: bankofwestafrican@citromail.hu
Date: Sat, 15 Apr 2017 18:33:05 +0200 (CEST)
Subject: Bank of West African
Attention:
The attention of Central Bank of West African States (Banque Centrale des
États de l'Afrique de l'Ouest) BCEAO was drawn by the International Monetary
Fund (IMF) World Bank Group,and United State Financial Conduct Authority
regarding your fund held in various bank in West Africa and in United State of
American by Security agencies and airport authorities.
After Investigation carried out by the Central Bank Financial Intelligent Unit.
We discovered that the main reason why your various transfer was Stopped and
prevented from reaching you was because your paying bank did not follow the due
process as affect the International banking law.
We are also aware that you have made several payment to secure the release of
the funds to no avail.
The Central Bank have been able to repatriate some of your fund from the United
State of America where it was placed on hold by security agencies.
The total sum of $4,800,000.00 was recovered and arrangement is still in
progress to repatriate the rest.
Meanwhile We will appreciate your kind cooperation and urgent response to this
message by reconfirming your relevant information in order to ensure that this
fund is released to you by Bceao Bank.
Thanks
Customer Fulfillment Centre [CFC]
Central Bank of West African States
Banque Centrale des États de l'Afrique de l'Ouest Republic Du Benin.
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Anti-fraud resources:
