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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:
- "money laundering" ("anti-terrorist", "anti-money laundering" or "drug-free" certificates are a common way for criminals in fake lottery scams and other Advance Fee scams to get you to send money to them. There are no such certificates in the real banking world. )
- "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. )
- "hundred thousand 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)
- "you are advice to " (this email uses bad English)
- 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.
- christophergeidt@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: " NOTIFICATION DESK (Customer service)" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <maildonald_ptr@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Sat, 12 Aug 2017 15:13:54 -0700
Subject: NOTIFICATION DESK (Customer service)
The National Payment Center
P.O.Box 1010
Liverpool L70 1NL. United Kingdom
NOTIFICATION DESK (Customer service)
Dear Funds Owner
Be informed that our management handling your investment funds payment has approved the release of
your over due payment through an International Cash Deposit Delivery Certified Bank System/SWIFT
CREDIT CARD and your incoming funds payment valued at US$26.5M (Twenty-Six Million Five Hundred
Thousand United States Dollars) will be paid and deposited into your bank account through the
International Cash Deposit Delivery Certified Bank System/SWIFT CREDIT CARD.
Having certify legally that your incoming payment funds are Not part of Government Corruption Funding
or Terrorist Sponsorship from the Country of Origin through their affiliate group . The Anti-Money Laundering
Group (ESAAMLG). A {MEMBER} of (FATF) has issued the Clean Bill Report Payment Deposit Clearance
Certificate in your name in accordance with the official directives from Executive Secretary, The Financial
Action Task Force Center (FATF) for International Cash Deposit Delivery Certified Bank System/SWIFT
CREDIT CARD.
Your urgent response confirming your position and acceptance of the International Cash Deposit Delivery
Certified Bank System/SWIFT CREDIT CARD. before the departure of the International Cash Deposit
Delivery Certified Bank System officials You are advice to provide your Physical Address and direct
telephone/mobile Number where you can be reached 24 hours.
Yours faithfully,
Christopher Geidt
Online Payment Claims Coordinator,
Email: christophergeidt@yahoo.co.uk
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Anti-fraud resources:
