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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:
- "clear source of funds 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. )
- "certificates of origin of funds" ("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. )
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Greg Catcher" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <barristernoracooper1977@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 24 Mar 2014 02:45:16 +0200
Subject: Re: Find attached of the X-ray of the box
Hello
I had been facing some difficulties at the Trenton Mercer airport. The box undergo scanning process, the authorities here at the airport find out the real content of the box its contains millions of dollars .
Now the custom here are requesting for two document...
1) CLEAR SOURCE OF FUNDS CERTIFICATES {C.S.F.C.}
2) CERTIFICATES OF ORIGIN OF FUNDS {C.O.F.}..
After receipts of the requested documents the box would be release to me, immediately I will facilitate the delivery of your boxes to your door step. I had already put a call to the office in UK that will endorse on the requested documentation and that will cost you a legal fees of 6,800 GBP. You're to make payment to London to enable them fax the documents to me. We have only 48 hrs to secure this documents if not your box would be confiscated.I will wait you urgent respond so that I can furnish you the payment details
I will be waiting for your urgent responds so that I can advise you on how the fees would be effect
Warm regard,
Dip Greg Catcher
Senior Dip PanEx
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Anti-fraud resources:
