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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.
- 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. )
- "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. )
- "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)
- "million 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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- 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.
- andrew_azazi@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "MR.ANDREW AZAZI" <andrew_azazi@yahoo.com> (may be fake)
Date: Thu, 23 Aug 2012 16:50:34 +0300 (EEST)
Subject: MESSAGE FROM MY OFFICE TODAY!!!
FROM THE DESK OF MR. ANDREW CHIZOR AZAZI
I am Mr. Andrew Chizor Azazi of the Nigeria Clearing House. I decided to
contact you because of the prevailing financial report reaching my office
and the intense nature of polity in Nigeria: Reply to my private email:
andrew_azazi@yahoo.com
This is to inform you about our plan to send your fund to you via cash
delivery system.This system will be easier for you and for us. We are
going to send your payment of ($16.4Million United States Dollars) to you
through diplomatic shipment with the services of a diplomat,I have secured
every needed document to cover this fund.
Note: This fund is coming in security proof boxes which are sealed with
Synthetic nylon seal and padded with machine. I will use my position to
release this fund to you. The boxes are coming with a Courier agent who
will deliver them to you at your home address in your country.
All you need to do now is to send to me:
1. Your Name in full....................
2. Your Address.......................
3. Nationality.........................
4. Age/Gender............................
5. Occupation.............................
6. Telephone/Mobile Phone..................
7. Copy of your drivers license....... ....
8.Marital Status.............................
Note: The Agent does not know the contents in these boxes, the content
will be declared to him as Sensitive Photographic Film Materials.
I will secure the clearance Certificate that will be tagged on the boxes
which I will dispatch along with the security inner Keys of the
consignments to enable you access them as soon as they are delivered to
you.
Best Regards,
Mr. Andrew Chizor Azazi
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Anti-fraud resources:
