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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:
- "clearance certificate" (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. )
- "certificate fee" (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. )
- "security keeping fee" (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. )
- "clearance certificate" (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. )
- "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)
- "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Emily Olivier Jackman" <cyreyes@itesm.mx>
Reply-To: mrsemilyolivierj@gmail.com
Date: Sat, 11 Jul 2009 13:38:43 +0000
Subject: Profound Greetings.
Profound Greetings.
My contentment in this life is that I have just concluded my heart desires,
I am Mother Emily Olivier, 87 Years old and the wife of Late Sir Jackman
Olivier who died in a Plane crash on Monday the 7th of September 1998 GMT
14:22 UK while flying from New York to Geneva. You may confirm this from
this link http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/9809/swissair.victims.list/index.html
After the death of my husband, I headed his investment and now that I am
old I have decided to spend the rest of my life with my family and relatives
whom I never had time for during my active business life. Therefore, I have
decided to share my resources into two equal halves, the first half will
be for me and my relatives including close friends, while the other half
will be for charitable work.
Three Weeks ago I deposited a Cheque valued at 800,000.00 US Dolars
with FedEx to be delivered to you upon your contact with them. Contact FedEx
with the contact details below.
Contact Person: Mr. Mark Robins
Email Address: fedxdispatch@administrativos.com
I am sorry to inform you that I will no longer be reading my email as I have
retired completely to my ranch all further correspondence should be between
you and FedEx as I have already given them your cheque of 800,000.00 US Dolars
to be Remitted to you when you contact them.
For your information, I have paid for the delivery Charges, Insurance Premium
and Clearance Certificate Fee as required for the Cheque showing that the
fund donated to you have no link to Drug-trafficking or the sponsorship of
Terrorism in your Country. Hence, you do not need to pay for the above again.
The only charges to be paid by you is the accrued security keeping fee of
your cheque so far, which would be approximately 397.86 US Dolars.
Remember to ask them the method of receiving the charges.
You are to reconfirm the below information to them to avoid any mistake.
Postal address;
Full Names:
Direct telephone number;
The Security keeping code of the cheque: (SCT/0433/U)
Mrs. Emily Olivier Jackman
Anti-fraud resources:
