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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. )
- "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. )
- "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. )
- "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. )
- "once we receive the payment" (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. )
- "hundred thousand us 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)
- "we advice you" (this email uses bad English)
- "affidavit " (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "lagos" (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: "IMF REGULATORY OFFICE" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <oawelsh220@hotmail.com>
Date: Thu, 8 Dec 2011 12:06:38 +0100
Subject: YOUR INHERITANCE FUND!
IMF WORLD REGULATORY OFFICE
INTERNATIONAL FUNDS REGULATORY AUTHORITY
INTER-CONTINENTAL DEBT RECONCILIATION DEPT.
FROM THE DESK OF: HONORABLE DAVIDSON OLA WELSH
DIRECTOR; IMF WORLD REGULATORY OFFICE.
ATTENTION: PROVISION OF AFFIDAVIT OF CLAIM CERTIFICATE FOR LEGAL COVER/
PROTECTION OF US$15.5M IN YOUR FAVOUR.
AFTER THE MEETING TODAY, WE HAVE REDUCED THE PAYMENT FOR THE CLEARANCE CERTIFICATE TO $85 SO THAT YOU CAN MEET UP WITH THE PAYMENT. YOU ARE GIVEN ONLY 24HOURS TO MAKE THIS PAYMENT SO THAT WE CAN RELEASE YOUR PART PAYMENT OF $5.5M(FIVE MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND US DOLLARS) IN OUR CARE. WE ADVICE YOU TO PAY THE $85 THROUGH THE WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER OR MONEY GRAM WITH THE BELOW INFORMATION AND SEND THE PAYMENT DETAILS TO ME.
YOUR NAME HAS BEEN SHORTLISTED FOR PAYMENT,KINDLY SEE WHAT YOU CAN DO TO MAKE THIS PAYMENT TODAY. WE ASSURE YOU THAT THIS IS THE ONLY AND LAST PAYMENT AND PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS AUGUST WE ARE READY AND WILLING TO PAY OUT YOUR FUND ONCE WE RECEIVE
THE PAYMENT OF $85 ONLY FOR THE CLEARANCE CERTIFICATE.
MY GOOD FRIEND YOU HAVE SUFFERED ENOUGH. I WANT YOU TO KNOW YOU HAVE COME TO THE END OF THE ROAD AND YOUR FUND MUST BE RELEASED TO YOU AS SOON AS YOU MAKE THE PAYMENT TODAY.
NAME: KENNEDY DIM
TEXT QUESTION: GOOD
TEXT ANSWER: BEST
AMOUNT: $85
ADDRESS: LAGOS STATE /NIGERIA
PLEASE GO AND SEND IT IMMEDIATELY AND SEND THE PAYMENT DETAILS TO ME
IMMEDIATELY.
WE AWAIT FOR YOUR URGENT RESPONSE IMMEDIATELY TODAY.
DAVIDSON OLA WELSH
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