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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:
- "drug clearance certificate" ("anti-terrorist", "anti-money laundering" or "drug-free" certificates are a common way for criminals in fake lottery scams and other Advance Fee scams to get you to send money to them. There are no such certificates in the real banking world. )
- "terrorist clearance certificate" ("anti-terrorist", "anti-money laundering" or "drug-free" certificates are a common way for criminals in fake lottery scams and other Advance Fee scams to get you to send money to them. There are no such certificates in the real banking world. )
- "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. )
- "affidavit of claim" (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. )
- "stamp duty" (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. )
- "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. )
- "you are advice to " (this email uses bad English)
- "affidavit " (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "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.
Fraud email example:
From: "Foreign Remittance \(Bank Of America\)" <info.federalusabnk@gmail.com>
Reply-To: info.atmremittancedepartm@gmail.com
Date: Tue, 19 Apr 2011 11:30:20 +0100 (BST)
Subject: Why you have not received your money.
Dear Sir,  Â
This is regards to the transaction registered with your name been your inheritance /wining payment $200.000.00 United States Dollars which has been delay due to lack of information and irregularity that had happened and so the bank governing body is planning to convert this account into bank treasury. I do not want this to happen, and that is why I wrote you .You will agree with me that leaving this fund to disappear just like a think wind is senseless when it is my duty to help to a glorious end.
I want you to know that why you have not received your money in the past is because transaction above $150.000.00 to individual is totally checkmated and you have not procured the correct approvals and I want you to realise that we shall be able to release your funds but then we shall provide the bellow document to back you up so that no authority will question you.
1. Signing:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 2. Document
(i)Bank Receipts:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â (i) Notarized Affidavit of
claim of fund:
(ii)Payment Vouchers:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â (ii) Stamp duty fee to internal
revenue service:
(iii)Final Release Order:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â (iv) Proof of funds of ownership
clearance certificate:
(ii)Bank Guarantee Letter from the host:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â (vi) International
Drug clearance certificate:
(vii) Solicitor proof of the applicant wages:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â (vii) Anti
Terrorist clearance certificate:
Before further procedure , if you’re serious to claim your fund now you will be expected to pay only $32 to open a case file in your favour and also detail me more with your full contact addresses direct telephone numbers and fax, for easy communication. to ensure this funds get to you on time with maximum security. upon sending the fee we will commence immediate today. please do provide the above information accurately, because this office cannot afford to be held liable for any wrong transfer of funds or liability of funds credited into a ghost account. Pleease note that you are advice to send the require fee of $32 with the below details by Western Union only.
Receives Name:--------Ifeanyi Chukwu John
Country:--------- Benin Republic
City/state:--------- Cotonou.
Question:---------Â What Color?
Answer:-------- -Blue
Amount:--------- $32
MTCN:---------
This way I will use my high position to secure ALL THE APPROVALS DOCUMENT for the onward transfer of the fund to your position and the fund will reach your position in less than 3 banking days as the price beneficiary. You can agree with me that I can not associate my self in any business / transaction that may bring curse or problems to my family as a married man and a father of 3 kids.
So write back and tell me if you really want to carry out this transaction with me then I will let you know how to send the fee as this is the only money you will send to enable the fund reach you through any of your choosing transfer obtain .If you have any questions in this transaction feel free to ask me for further information and clarification regarding
this transaction. Please try all you can to send me the payment details today as soon as you send the requested fee of $32 today so that we can finishup the transfer by today without any further delay again. N/B: Please dont forget to send us your full account details this morning so that we can proceed immediately.
Waiting to hear from you soon.
 Thank you ,
 Dr. Destiny Mike
Senior manager, Foreign Remittance (Bank Of America)Â
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