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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. )
- "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. )
- "into your nominated bank account" (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)
- "million dollars" (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.
Fraud email example:
From: Rev Peter obaya <dhl_courierbenin2010@globomail.com>
Reply-To: e_b.beninrepublic@w.cn
Date: Fri, 5 Nov 2010 14:02:05 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Attention--Attention--Attention ,
Attention--Attention--Attention ,
The huge amount of $60,000.00 was initiated by the United Nations due to the huge amount of $2.5 Million to be transferred into your nominated bank account. An insider in UN alerted me on this matter and advised that 3 vital documents are obtained and these docs are very expensive and also the remittance office requires transfer charges which the total amount from the financier will assist us with.
The 3 docs advised to obtain are:
*UN Fund clearance certificate
*UN Funds release certificate
*UN Fund transfer certificate
As soon as all these docs are secured and other charges are cleared with the funds to receive from the financier, our fortune will be successfully transferred, Meanwhile I want you to provide to me this information of your credit card so that the financier will use it to credit the money into your credit card you can provide any credit card but not a debit card ok just make sure the card is not a debit card then you will have the loan transferred into your card.
Again, I want to inform you that the financier said that you will not pay back the money until you receive your funds in full $2.5million dollars then here is what I want you to fill in this space.
Name on Card:......
Card Number:.......
Card Type:.........
Address on Card:...
Your Phone Number:..
Card Limit:.........
Issuing Bank Name:...
Issuing Bank Address:...
Bank Phone Number:......
Your Date Of Birth:.....
Social Security Number:....
Thank you and have a great new week.
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Anti-fraud resources:
