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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. )
- "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)
- "united state of america" (this email uses bad English)
- "diplomatic agent" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist 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.
Fraud email example:
From: "AGENT DAVID ROMAN" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <agentdavidobi@mail2dave.com>
Date: Wed, 10 Jun 2015 18:01:38 -0700
Subject: I am your Diplomatic Agent David Roman who is responsible for the delivery of your Consignment Box
Good Day.............
I am your Diplomatic Agent David Roman who is responsible for the delivery of your Consignment Box worth FOUR HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND CANADIAN DOLLARS and I am
currently at Charllote/Douglas International Airport, North Carolina, United States of America. with your Consignment Box.
kindly forward to me your FBI clearance certificate and non-inspection clearance certificate VSB to my e-mail Which is needed here at the airport by the FBI Authority
to declare me free to move around in USA and to locate your home address without any further delay.
Note that after the FBI's requirements of the (FBI clearance certificate and non-inspection clearance certificate VSB) I asked them how to get it
obtained here in their office at Charllote/Douglas International Airport, North Carolina, United States of America and they told me that it will cost sum of 452.85usd
only which is very high amount of money to spend and I open up and told them that the amount required for the certificates is very high but they said is static by the
Law. Also be inform that the FBI said the certificates will be obtained here in the State also note you are free to come with the cash and meet me here .....
BELOW IS THE UNITED STATE OF AMERICA PAYMENT INFO, SEND VIA WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER AND TEXT (704 412 5988) OR EMAIL ME THE INFORMATION
Receiver's Name: VERA ANDERSON
Address: Montgomery, Alabama USA
Text Question: AA
Text Answer: BB
Amount: $452
Sender's Name:................?
MTCN OR REFF NO:..............?
hope to hear from you soon so that i can commence on the delivery to your home address joy and peace of the Lord. Do not forget to arrange a very good hotel where i
can stay. If you want me to be in your house that will be nice and i will also like you to take me around the city once i arrive with your consignment box.
Remember to reconfirm your full delivery address and your
phone number as listed below so that i will keep you posted.
1. Your Full Names:
2. Current Delivery Address
3. Mobile phone Numbers
4 Home Phone Numbers
Waiting for your urgent respond in this matter.
Thanks for your understanding in this matter and God bless you.
Diplomat Agent David Roman
Certified Diplomatic Agent
Call or Text: 704 412 5988
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Anti-fraud resources:
