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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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. )
- "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)
- "million us 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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- 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.
- andrew_azazi@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Lt General Andrew Azazi <salesservice11@outlook.com>
Reply-To: <andrew_azazi@yahoo.com>
Date: Fri, 16 May 2014 07:05:00 +0000
Subject: Re: Delivery Notification
Re: $2.6Million US Dollars Delivery Notification
I
am Lt General Andrew Azazi of the Nigeria Clearing House. I decided to
contact you because of the prevailing financial report reaching my
office and the intense nature of polity in Nigeria: Reply to my private
email: andrew_azazi@yahoo.com
This is to inform you about our
plan to send your fund to you via cash delivery system.This system will
be easier for you and for us. We are going to send your payment of
($2.6Million US Dollars) to you through diplomatic shipment with the
services of a diplomat,I have secured every needed document to cover
this fund. Note: This fund is coming in security proof boxes which are
sealed with Synthetic nylon seal and padded with machine. I will use my
position to release this fund to you. The boxes are coming with a
Courier agent who will deliver them to you at your home address in your
country.
forward me the requested information's below
============================== ====
1. Full name.......................... .....................
2. Telephone numbers/mobile/fax............ ......
3. Your age........................... .........................
4. Your sex........................... .........................
5. Your occupation.................... ......................
6. Your country and city.......................... .........
7. Your home address....................... ...............
8. Marital status........................ .....................
9. Copy of your driver"s license.......................
Note:
The Agent does not know the contents in these boxes, the content will
be declared to him as Sensitive Photographic Film Materials. I will
secure the clearance Certificate that will be tagged on the boxes which I
will dispatch along with the security inner Keys of the consignments to
enable you access them as soon as they are delivered to you. If you do
not believe in the outcome of this email please do not reply and if you
will not be supportive do not reply.
Best Regards,
Lt General Andrew Azazi
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