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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:
- ",500,000" (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)
- "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)
- 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.
- 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.
- g.makinde12@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: =?UTF-8?Q?MR=2E_FULBERT_G=C3=89RO_AMOUSSOUGA?= <noviadrdesmond1@gmail.com>
Reply-To: g.makinde12@gmail.com
Date: Wed, 16 Feb 2022 07:38:06 -0800
Subject: =?UTF-8?Q?FROM_MR=2E_FULBERT_G=C3=89RO_AMOUSSOUGA=2C_REPRESENTATIVE_OF?=
=?UTF-8?Q?_UNITED_NATIONS_REPUBLIC_OF_BENIN=2E=2E=2E?=
Attention:
It is our pleasure to inform you that (US$4,500,000.00) United States
Dollars has been awarded to you by United Nations (UN) Republic of
Benin for your scam victim compensation and we are happy to announce
it to you that your email address was found among the list of those
who lost their money one way or the other in trying to get money from
Africa and other part of the world.
We therefore want you to contact United Bank for Africa (UBA) with
information below and ask them what you will do to get your funds
transferred through online banking and with that method you can
transfer your funds online by yourself.
Contact information as stated:
Bank Managing Director: Mr. Gbenga Makinde
E-mail Address: g.makinde12@gmail.com
Phone Number: +229-67635194
Thank you for your understanding and we are looking forward to your
hearing ASAP.
Signed by United Nations Representative in Benin,
Mr. Fulbert Géro Amoussouga
Thanks and God bless you.
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Anti-fraud resources:
