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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. )
- "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. )
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: UNION BANK PLC <donovannsmitt@gmail.com>
Reply-To: mch_fmf@hotmail.com
Date: Fri, 26 Jun 2015 03:51:43 +0100
Subject: BANK INTERVENTION ON YOUR PAYMENT
*GOODDAY CALL US UNION BANK INTERVENTION ON YOUR PAYMENT This is to
officially notify all Foreign Funds payment Beneficiary that the new
President have embarked on immediate cancellation of all International
payment Approval from every Government Financial Institution/Offshore
payment Bank,due to a lot of beneficiaries complain of paying fees and
charges before their fund can be released to them by the corrupt
officials. However, with regard to provision of section 117 degree of the
1999 constitution,the new president has re-approved all foreign payment
fund and assigned to UNION BANK for immediate released of your part
payment US$6.5m USD.we has up hold all payment fund retrieved from various
banks to ensure successful payment to the rightful beneficiary who his/her
fund has been approved for payment within the next 72hours as was
instructed by the president as your fund has been delay for pervious years
due to the fact that you are engage with corrupt officials in the bank that
promise to help you through the back door which is not possible. The
Federal Government in conjunction with the United Nation have put a new law
to stop fraudulent act and to those bank that promise to help you through
the back door to receive your fund as you'are warmed to stop further
communication with any individual or Bank that may contact you in this
regard,Your fund will be release to you through direct credit from this
bank as soon as we you obtain direct transfer fund currency capital control
clearance certificate which is the cost of delay of your fund for
years. Re-confirm to me the followings(1) Your full names:(2) Contact
address:(3) Tel-Fax/cell phone numbers:(4) Occupation/Position:(5) Name of
company if any:(6) Age and marital status. As soon as we receive this
information, we shall proceed immediately for your paymentwithout further
delay. Regards,Rev Dr StevenUNION BANK*
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