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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. )
- "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. )
- "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)
- "diplomatic agent" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "high court" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "federal high court" (This court is often mentioned in '419' scams to give the victim a reason why he/she should send thousands of dollars to the scammers. A 'Federal High Court' exists in Germany and Nigeria, but not in other countries, such as the UK, Spain, Netherlands, Senegal, Benin, South Africa or other countries where fake lawyers in scams often claim to be based. )
- "douglasbruce@yahoo.cn" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- 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: Bruce Douglas <chinedumike22@yahoo.fr>
Reply-To: douglasbruce@yahoo.cn
Date: Fri, 20 Apr 2012 14:19:01 +0100 (BST)
Subject: Internal Revenue Service United States Department of the Treasury
Internal Revenue Service United States Department of the Treasury
Internal Revenue Service United States Department of the Treasury
U.S.A. Internal Revenue Service Department
Internal Revenue Service United States Department of the Treasury
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Bureau of Consular Affairs Washington , DC 20520
Greeting from USA I.R.S,
Attention Dear Consignment Owner!!!
Wewrite to inform you that your package with reference number 2661428 hasbeen in Customs facility custody waiting for resolutions of theclearance to further the delivery to your destination address by theDiplomatic Agent who came all the way from Africa.We have been waitingfor you to contact us regarding your consignment box which the Agentsuppose to deliver to you which was on hold by USA Customs Departmentand they are requesting for clearance certificate which will be obtainfrom the origination of the consignment box before it will be releasedfrom the Customs to the delivery Agent to complete the delivery to you.
After the phone call we made onyour behalf to the USA Customs Authority and the Government of BeninRepublic, it was resolved that the delivery of your consignment to yourdestination will must be complete within two (2) working days upon yourcompliance to our directives;
You shall required to send sum of$45.00 usd to obtain the needed Ownership-clearance certificate fromthe Federal High Court Of Justice Republic of Benin because theclearance charges which was initially on the high price has been cutdown by the US Embassy in Benin Republic considering the poor economicsituations that make it difficult for the middle class citizens to meetup with the clearance of their entitlement.
We will upon theconfirmation of your clearing charge assign our Diplomat Agent (Mr.Eric Bowen) To proceed the delivery to your destination once you notifyus with the payment information and the needed Ownership-clearancecertificate from Republic of Benin, the USA Customs will release yourconsignment to you and it will be delivered to you by our Agent.
You can contact us with the following information,
Contact person: Mr. Douglas Bruce
Email: (douglasbruce@yahoo.cn)
Notethat you are expected to pay only $45.00 usd for Ownership-clearancecertificate and you are to pay it to the origination of the package infavor of MR.JOHN OBAGHA as our accountant officer in Republic of Beninand the $45.00 usd will send through western union once you receivethis mail with the information below for immediate release of yourpackage,
PAYMENT INFORMATION
RECEIVERS NAME =========JOHN OBAGHA
COUNTRY/CITY:=======BENIN REPUBLIC
TEST QUESTION:=======HOW ARE YOU
ANSWER: ===========FINE
AMOUNT:===========$45.00USD
Once you send the money please try to notify us with the MTCN so that we can contact Mr.John Obagha for easy pick up and for immediate action on the release of your Ownership-clearance certificate.
Notethat any unclaimed consignment will be return to Benin RepublicGovernment after 7 days. So you are urgently advised to comply with ourdirectives so that the Customs will release your consignment as soon asurgent.
Thank You
Yours Sincerely.
Mr. Douglas Bruce
Commissioner of Internal Revenue Service.
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