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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:
- "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. )
- "western union" (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. )
- "united state of america" (this email uses bad English)
- "i will advice you " (this email uses bad English)
- "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
- 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.
Fraud email example:
From: "MR WILLIAMS KING" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <irbbcourierservice@al-3na.net>
Date: Sat, 23 Jan 2010 13:00:30 +0100
Subject: CONTACT IRBB COURIER COMPANY FOR THE COLLECTION OF YOUR FUND
Dear: Beneficiary
It has come to our notice that you are unable to claim your fund last year
being 2009 and also the charges for the Anti Terrorist certificate and VAT
fee was not met, for that reason ( IRBB Courier Service ) has
decided to ship your package to your doorstep Which is already in New
York but will only be allowed to leave United Stated Kingdom to your
Residential address as soon as you Procure the needed Custom Clearance
Certificate, Mean while you are to come up with is the America Custom
Clearance Certificate for the processing of your package which is now to be
delivered from United Stated Kingdom to your residential address, Please
be informed that you are to pay Only to ($150) for the United State of America
custom clearance Certificate.
=================================
APPLICATION / CLAIM FORM
=================================
1. Full name........................
2. Phone ????????.
3. Fax number..............
4. Address..............................
5 . Sex?????.
6. Your age and current
7.occupation..........................................
8. Attach your Driver license Or International Passport???.
Contact the person in charge of your Package.
Mr Williams King
Phone: +234-803-714-9978
E-mail: irbbcourierservice@al-3na.net
I will advice you to make the payment for your own benefit so as not to
allow the mistake of last year not to repeat it. Once again do not comply
with imposter email address, be warn!!! God bless you has you follow my
instruction.
You are to send the money to us via western union money transfer. Note
that as soon as this payment is been made and confirmed by our Account
officer, you're PACKAGE will be delivered to your door step within 48
hours.
Yours Faithfully,
MR. WILLIAMS KING
DELIVERY COMPANY
IRBB COURIER SERVICE.
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Anti-fraud resources:
