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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:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "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. )
- "storage 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. )
- "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)
- "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)
- "waiting for your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "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: "Georgia - U.S. Customs and Border Protection" <jamesmsherry777@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 15 Apr 2013 08:49:00 +0100
Subject: Acquired your waiver certificate so that your consignment we be
delivered within 48hours
Attention ; Beneficiary .
How are you doing today? Fine I hope.
Note that coming down Atlanta will even cost more because you will be ask
to pay for storage fee also. So Due to the very fact that you are finding
it difficult to claim your consignment. Will wish to inform you that you
can now claim your consignment by acquiring WAIVER CERTIFICATE from country
of fund origin , Which is Nigeria. Note that you are only going to pay the
sum 250 dollar for the said certificate. Immediately the certificate is
issued to you , Will shall delivered your consignment to you within
24hours. Pay the 250 dollar on the name of the receiving officer below via
western union.
NAME; PAUL IKE.
ADDRESS; LAGOS NIGERIA,
QUESTION; IN GOD
ANSWER; WE TRUST
while waiting for your urgent response.
.my direct line 404-462-0842.
Shipment details.
CONSIGNMENT DETAILS
TAG#: BJ2661428986
REF: B762661428BJ
REG NO: 0229BJ
RECEIPT NO: 339331,
BATCH NO: 55674
RELEASE CODE NO: 0763
VALUED $5000,000.00 USD
Waiting for your urgent reply.
MR. JAMES M SHERRY.
INSPECTION OFFICER INSPECTION UNIT.
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