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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. )
- "tax clearance" (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. )
- "into your nominated bank account" (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)
- "tax clearance" (Tax offices mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. Even after you pay their fake tax demands you will still not receive the non-existent funds you have been promised. )
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
Fraud email example:
From: "Dr.Mrs.Ngozi Okonjo Iweala" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <ngoziokonjo_iweala@yahoo.cn>
Date: Mon, 11 Mar 2013 04:00:53 -0500
Subject: Re:Payment
Compliments..
How are you and your family my good friend? Head of State; President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has instructed me to release full payment to all foreign fund beneficiaries from our reserve oil account with Citibank with immediate effect and your name was among beneficiaries that will benefit from this new payment program, please kindly forward to me immediately your Tax clearance certificate for the release of your approved payment, also reconfirm your receiving bank account details, your direct phone number and your postal address immediately, because the remittance of your approved fund will take place immediately we receive your bank account details and Tax clearance certificate. However’ immediately after the remittance into your nominated bank account, MOT 103 with payment slip confirmation will be send to you for confirmation of your payment in your bank account. I am so happy that your name was among beneficiaries inline of payment after waiting for so long for your payment.
Reply immediately with your Tax clearance certificate, your bank account details and your direct phone number for immediate remittance.
Congratulations!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Regards
DR.MRS NGOZI OKONJO IWEALA
MINISTER OF FINANCE (FRN)
Direct phone No: +234-81-8829-2707
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Anti-fraud resources:
