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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:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "dear beloved," (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "a security company " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "trunk box" (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)
- "urgent assistance" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "contact the diplomat" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "the diplomat " ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "a diplomat " ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Bethel Martins <bm1624132030@gmail.com>
Date:
Subject:
Dear Beloved,
Please this is a cry for urgent assistance to know if you can assist me
receive my fund from a security company before it's too late.
My name is Mrs.Bethel Martins from Madrid Spain but married to a Ghana
Wealthy Businessman who deals in gold.
We met many years back while he was on a business trip in Spain.
Unfortunately, he died two years ago and since then life has been hell for
me here because the family wants me dead at all cost for them to take over
all his wealth.
Presently I am in Spain where I am undergoing treatment as I was struck
with a strange illness.
I want you to contact Mr. Milton Priye, he is a Clergy and also a diplomat
from the Republic of Togo.
Instruct and direct him where to deliver the trunk box I kept with their
security company there in Togo before I was flown to Spain for treatment.
The box contains in cash the sum of (€57.5M Euro) Fifty-seven million,five
hundred thousand Euros.
Please in no account must Mr.Milton Priye know the content of the box as I
made the deposit as a box containing African art works and this was for my
security purpose.
You are to receive and welcome the diplomat in your country and collect
this fund on my behalf from him.
This is on the condition that you will take 30% of the fund for yourself
for your kind assistance,while the remaining 70% you will keep for me as I
will join you in your country once I am out of the hospital.
Contact the diplomat immediately for they are waiting for you to reach them
so that the diplomat can proceed to your place.
Present to them this code of identification please. HGESLXT7
Contact Person: Mr. Milton Priye.
Email Address: redacted@domain.name
Shalom,
Mrs.Bethel Martins.
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