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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:
- "clearing 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. )
- "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)
- "the 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: "Dr Peter Phillip" <xxxxxxxx2345office@att.net>
Reply-To: <cnigeria21@yahoo.com>
Date: Sat, 5 Feb 2011 17:39:03 +0100
Subject: DEAR BENEFICIARY, INFORMATION OF YOUR FUND ARRIVAL TO YOUR HOME REPLY ASAP
Attn Beneficiary
Due to you are unable to arrive our bank head office to open an account with us for your $10.5 Million dollars fund transfer. This office has finalized all arrangement to deliver your fund to your door step via diplomatic trunk in other to beat security network here and during arrival in your country Airport.
At this junture you are warned not to reveal the secret of this venture to any 3rd party untill you receive your fund in your home to avoid interceptions from imposters.we have teken care of legal back ups and logistics here to ensure safe arrival in your country. all you needed to do now is to arrange clearing fee which you will send to the diplomat on their arrival in your country for the clearing of your fund trunk. To avoid intercption of your country airport authority
Kindly forward to this office Below informations
YOUR DELIVERY ADDRESS
PRIVATE TELEPHONE NUMBER
SCANNED COPY OF YOUR ID/DRIVER SLICENSE
Waiting to hear from you urgent
Dr Peter Phillip
Director Foreign Remittance Dept(CBN)
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Anti-fraud resources:
