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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:
- "dear beloved," (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "terrorist clearance certificate" ("anti-terrorist", "anti-money laundering" or "drug-free" certificates are a common way for criminals in fake lottery scams and other Advance Fee scams to get you to send money to them. There are no such certificates in the real banking world. )
- "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. )
- "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)
- ",000,000" (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)
- "united state of america" (this email uses bad English)
- "remain blessed" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Christine Lagarde" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <christinelagar_imf@yahoo.fr>
Date: Sat, 24 Aug 2013 23:12:07 +0100
Subject: YOUR FUND TRANSFER VIA REGIONS BANK!!!
Dear beloved,
It is my pleasure to inform that we have finalized all it takes to transfer your fund worth USD 5,000,000.00$ US DOLLARS due to your lost in the past by those hoodlums in West African and United Kingdom.
During our internet scam monitoring system we found out that you have spent a lot of money for you to claim your fund and there was no result for you to claim your. I want you to know that we have everything in place for your fund to be transferred to you into your nominated bank account in the United State of America through our paying bank, which is Regions Bank in Alabama, Cross country.
Right now your fund has been deposited into a safe account in Regions Bank Alabama, I am very happy to inform you that you have to feel free to contact Regions Banks for the immediate transfer of your fund into your nominated bank account in your local bank.
Mean while I want you to forward me this little information so that I can help you inform them about your fund release to you immediately.
Here is all the information I need for now;
Full name:
Country:
Nationality:
Phone number:
Note that I.M.F has taken care for International Clearance and Anti-Terrorist Clearance Certificate of your fund release to you immediately.
I await your reply over this urgent issue.
Thanks and remain blessed.
Christine Lagarde
I.M.F President
International Monetary Fund
Fund Release Department.
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Anti-fraud resources:
