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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.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "chief auditor" (the name of a person or institution often appearing 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.
- bensoneden1@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Benson Eden <bensoneden3@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 21 Jul 2019 16:02:20 -0700
Subject: Business and Investment Proposal:
Dear,
I am Mr. Benson Eden , a banker by profession and currently holds the
position of Chief Auditor in our bank, I have the ability to transfer
unclaimed fund of $25.7 million that belong to one of our late
customer, who died some years ago. He was an independent oil merchant
in my country & the bank has put the fund in an escrow account waiting
for his next of kin to come for the claim because he died together
with the wife and the only daughter who are supposed to have inherit
this fund. The bank management will share this fund if no one comes
after a period of time.I can't do it alone because my late customer
was a foreigner. So declare your interest to assist me so I can send
you the detail message my private email: bensoneden1@gmail.com .
We are waiting for your Response.
Regards and God Bless
Benson Eden
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Anti-fraud resources:
