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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 fee" (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. )
- "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. )
- "you are required to pay " (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. )
- "million united states 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)
- "million united state 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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "diplomatic agent" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "contact the diplomat" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "dmbin@outlook.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. Richard White" <departmentoffice03@gmail.com>
Reply-To: dmbin@outlook.com
Date: Tue, 9 Feb 2016 17:07:14 +0700
Subject: INSTRUCTIONS TO DELIVER YOUR PACKAGE
!!! INSTRUCTIONS TO DELIVER YOUR PACKAGE !!!
Attn: Valuable Customer,
We wish to inform you that the Diplomatic Agent conveying the package
valued the sum of $8.5Million United State Dollars misplaced your Current
addresson transit and he is currently stranded at (Charlotte Douglas
International Airport) with your package which contained ATM VISA CARD.
you are required to contact him and re-confirm the following information
below, so he can deliver the Package that contained your compensation fund
as soon as possible today and also remember that you will pay the
clearance fee of $155 (One Hundred And Fifty-Five Dollars) before the
custom can allow the agent to deliver the package to you.
Full Name: =========================
Current Address: ==========================
Mobile No.:======================================
Name of Your Nearest Airport:================================ A Copy of
Your Passport/Drivers
License,(If possible):=============================
Please do contact the diplomatic agent with the email below or call him on
phone.
Contact Person: Mr. David Mark
E-mail:(dmbin@outlook.com)
He is waiting to hear from you today with this information listed above.
NOTE: The Diplomatic agent doesn't know the content of the package is
$8.5Million United States Dollars and on no circumstances should you let
him know the content. The package was moved from here as a family
treasures, so never allow him to open the package. Please do not disclose
the body of this letter to him or anyone else until you receive the
package so that he won't divert the package to another person and remember
that the only fee you are required to pay is $155 for clearance
certificate.
Yours In Service,
Mr. Richard White,
Director D.H.L Company Benin.
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Anti-fraud resources:
