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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. )
- "insurance 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. )
- "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. )
- "hundred thousand united states 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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "resmi.mustarichie-fedex@live.com" (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.
Fraud email example:
From: FedEx Courier Service <resmi.mustarichie@unpad.ac.id>
Reply-To: FedEx Courier Service <resmi.mustarichie-fedex@live.com>
Date: Mon, 23 Jul 2012 14:27:20 +0700 (WIT)
Subject: Urgent
FedEx Head Office
70 International Airport Road
Mafoluku, Lagos
Dear Customer,
You have a package registered with us for shipping to your residential
location. However we cannot quote its content to you via e-mail for
privacy reasons but we understand that your package it self is a Bank
Draft worth $300,000.00 (Three Hundred Thousand United States Dollars).
FedEx do not ship money in cash but Bank Drafts are shippable. We are
sending you this message because your package was placed on a Special
delivery and for your information the VAT & Shipping charges as well as
Insurance fee have been paid by your sender before your package was
registered.
Also note that the payment made on the Insurance, Premium & Clearance
Certificates are to certify that the Bank Draft is not a Drug Affiliated
Fund (DAF) and not to sponsor Terrorism in your country. This will help
you avoid any form of query from the Monetary Authority in your country.
Contact our FedEx Delivery Department for immediate dispatch of your package.
Mr. Resmi Mustarichie
E-mail: resmi.mustarichie-fedex@live.com
NOTE-: Reconfirm your details for delivery as stated below;
Full Name:
Address:
Telephone:
Thank you.
Federal Express Co-operation.
All rights reserved. © 1996-2012
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or Privileged information. If you are not an addressee you must not copy,
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