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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. )
- "money gram" (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. )
- "foreign remittance department" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
- "(ecowas)" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "ecowas " (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "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.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. Jude Udodi" <info.frb@execs.com>
Reply-To: "Mr. Jude Udodi" <p.ander@hotmail.com>
Date: Fri, 28 Nov 2014 23:08:09 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: YOUR APPROVAL SUM OF US$1.5 MILLION
 We write to bring to your notice that after the recent extra ordinary meeting jointly held with all the finacial house here in Cotonou Benin Republic. concerning settlement of Foreign Debts and finding ways to abolish government stringent conditions imposed by these Finance Houses prior to transfer of funds.
However, the ECOWAS representatives and Benin Financial Intelligence Unit, (BFIU) after their investigation on your payment, they granted the approval and clearance in your favor to release your payment of US$1.5 Million having watched these ugly developments, and has come up with the following resolutions to enable them avoid future re-occurrence of these unfortunate developments especially to foreigners who were unable to receive their outstanding funds.
In view of the above, the (ECOWAS) Regional Body has noted that you are one of the foreigners that were affected by these bureaucracies, therefore the sum of US$1.5 Million has been signed in your name and it is deposited in Vital Finance to be transfer to you either by daily transfer from Money Gram Department or through wire transfer to your bank account.
You are required to contact Mr. Felix M. Nkem the director of foreign remittance department via the below information for the processing of your Non residential clearance certificate to avoid any hitch during the transfer of your fund.
Contact Person: Mr. Felix M. Nkem
E-mail ir.control@live.com
Tel:229 97308619
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You will furnish them with your personal details as requestd below which will be used in processing of the above documents in your name.
Your receiver's first and second name................
Present country................
phone number...............
address/city..........
age...............
Note: that you have to contact the director of foreign remittance department with your personal details as requested above to enable him process the Non residential clearance certificate to avoid any hitch durring the remittance of your fund
Sincerely
Mr. Felix M Nkem
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