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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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. )
- "money gram" (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. )
- "mtcn" (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. )
- "are expected to pay " (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. )
- "the consignment" (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)
- "consignment " (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)
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- 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 free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- ambassadormecculley1@yahoo.com.hk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: UNITED STATE Embassy <westernumtcustom@sify.com>
Reply-To: ambassadormecculley1@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Tue, 29 Mar 2011 09:23:04 +0100 (BST)
Subject: FROM UNITED STATE Embassy
U.S. Department of State
Bureau of Consular Affairs
Washington , DC 20520
Greeting from USA Embassy,
THIS MAIL IS ONLY FOR THE OWNER OF THIS E-MAIL ADDRESS
Attention :
This is to notify you that your package has been in our custody waiting for your comply before the delivery will be effected to your delivery address. We have been waiting for you to contact us regarding your package that FedEx Express suppose to deliver to your address which was put on hold by US Department of State Bureau requesting for clearance certificate which will be obtained from the origination country of the package before it will be released/subsequent delivery to your home address.
After the meeting held by our board of director which was concluded that the delivery of your consignment to your address must be completed within three working days upon your comply to our requirements which is by sending the sum of $166.00 to enable us obtain the needed certificate and effect the delivery of your package immediately.
YOUR PACKAGE($4.5M) MUST BE REGISTERED AS AN AMBASSADORIAL PACKAGE FOR ME TO DEFEAT ALL ODDS AND THE COST OF REGISTERING IT IS $166 .THE FEE MUST BE PAID IN BETWEEN TODAY BECAUSE I WILL GET TO YOUR COUNTRY TOMORROW THEN SEND VIA WESTERN UNION SO THAT ALL NECESSARY ARRANGEMENT CAN BE MADE BEFORE TIME WILL BE AGAINST US.
Note that your package has been arrived in US embassy and waiting to receive clearance certificate before the gate pass is given.
Meanwhile, you are advised to reconfirm the below information upon
Contacting us to avoid delivery to wrong person.
=================================================
Full name:
address:
Phone/ Number
==============================================
Once you notify us with the above information we will release/deliver your consignment to you.
You can contact us on the contact name and e-mail address below,
Contact person, Hon Rolland Mark
EMAIL:( ambassadormecculley1@yahoo.com.hk )
Note that you are expected to pay only $166.00 for clearance certificate and you are to pay it to Benin Republic as the origination country of the consignment box in favour of Mr Chukwuemeka John as our accountant officer in Benin Republic.
Send the $166.00 through western union or Money Gram once you receive this mail with the information below for immediate release/delivery of your package.
RECEIVER NAME:Mr CHIZOR ISAAC
ADDRESS:21 Ito rd cotonou
COUNTRY:Republic of Benin.
QUESTON:BLESS
ANSWER:GOD
Amount: $166.00
Mtcn.............
Once you send the money, try to notify us through e-mail with the MTCN for easy pick up by our accountant in Benin Republic and for immediate action on the release/delivery of your package.
Please treat this as matter of urgency .
Note that any uncliamed consignment will be returned to FedEx Xpress courier company ltd after 3 days of this notice.
So you are urgently advised to comply with our demands so that we will release your consignment.
Hon Rolland Mark
Public Relation Officer United State Embassy.
FROM UNITED STATE Embassy
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Anti-fraud resources:
