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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:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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. )
- "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. )
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "abuja" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "gracechioma1@qatar.io" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- 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.
Fraud email example:
From: International Monetary Fund <chadhedrick666@yahoo.ca>
Reply-To: gracechioma1@qatar.io
Date: Wed, 9 Jun 2010 06:34:59 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: ABOUT YOUR FUND TRANSFER UPDATE.
From the desk of Dr.Mrs Grace Echioma
Harmonization Chairman
International Monetary Fund IMF.
Pmb. 3243.Gariki Abuja Nigeria
Tel:+234-7062558617.
Dear/ Sir Madam
Please be inform that we have resolve the issue with your fund Transfer,therefore you are advise immediately to re-confirm the following information stated below,to enable us issue you IMF clearance Certificate which will legaly authorise you to receive your outstanding Inheritance fund value US$10.5 million usd, to your desinated Bank account.
1 Your Full Name
2 Your direct telephone number
3 Country
4 Occupation
5 Age
Note you are advise not to respond anylonger to whosoever that is contacting you in respect of these fund, claiming to be a financial institutions or Courier Company, as we are now directly in charge of your payment.Therefore Any action contrary to this instructions is at your own risk.
Respond to this e-mail with immediate effect ( gracechioma1@qatar.io ) and we shall give you further details on how your fund will be released.
Regards
Dr. Grace Echioma.
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