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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. )
- "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. )
- "mtcn" (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)
- "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 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)
- "cotonou" (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.
- 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.
- embassyamerica44@yahoo.fr (Yahoo, France; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: Mr John Nelson <americaembassy302@yahoo.co.uk>
Reply-To: embassyamerica44@yahoo.fr
Date: Wed, 18 Sep 2013 10:55:26 +0100 (BST)
Subject: ****SPAM**** the delivery of your consignment valued $10.8 million dollars
Beneficiary,
I received your mailing address and i am now at San Francisco International Airport California (SFO) and its mandatary that i will affect this delivery today.This delivery has taken me alot of stress while i was told that it will take me only 2days.The way USA aiport security inspects consignment shiped out of French Country is not well pleased.I am having a little problem here with intercepting the consignment with regards to the CLEAN BILL OF RECORD CLEARANCE which is delaying my coming to the above address you supplied me to make the delivery of your consignment valued $10.8 million dollars to you. They persisted I must provide the Clean Bill Of Record Clearance before i will be allow to connect my flight to your nearest Airport immediately you send the fees now.
I presented the Clearance certificate,Yellow Tag and Insurance certificate but they refused.I asked the man in charge Mr. William Frank the reason of all this delay because the entire necessary documents is complete and this package has been on transits in PARIS FRANCE and the authority over there did not demand for such certificate and he did not detailed the reasonable answer than its illegal to enter the country with the Unknown Package without the CLEAN BILL OF RECORD otherwise they will inspect the consignment since is sending from individual to individual.
I don't have any means to contact you when i arrived this airport and my only means to communicate with you orally,is through phone-boot but i could not due to the pressure they are giving me and i was told not to keep away from this Package till it handed over to you.
At the moment I have negotiated with the USA Customs Authority to allow me in with the consignment but they refused.They now directed me to contact the origin of the consignment to get the clearance and I have also contacted USA EMBASSY IN BENIN and through the help of a customs officer , they said that it will cost sum of $110.00.Now is almost 12:30 am while my flight will be take off by 1:30pm and i don't want to make this delivery tonight your home address-
Kindly send $110.00.To DHL BENIN REPUBLIC Immediately through western union with the name below so that they can obtain the required CLEAN BILL OF RECORD to enable me board my flight to come over to your Airport.send the little fee to our office in CALIFORNIA with the information’s below:
SEND THE $110 WITH THE NAME OF COMPANY'S CASHIER’S NAME:
Receiver Name. =====SAMUEL IFEANYI
Country======== Benin Republic
City=========Cotonou
Question== How long?
Answer.......Now
AMOUNT.....$110.00
MTCN.......................... ...
Senders name......................
Send the MTCN via email TO (embassyamerica44@yahoo.fr).To avoid any delay,once you get the money kindly and let me know because i don't think that i can afford to check email here again till i get to your Airport.
Please don't delay because i don't have enough time to be delay.Send across the $110 .To our office in Benin Republic as soon as possible to enable me arrange the CLEARANCE CERTIFICATES of the consignment as to assure that the delivery is completed a.s.a.....p.
I am now at San Francisco International Airport California,
My regards
TNT Express Delivery Agent
Mr John Nelson
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