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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:
- "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. )
- "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)
- 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.
- agentdavidmark085@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs. Michelle King," (may be fake)
Reply-To: <agentdavidmark085@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 8 Sep 2017 18:01:04 +0100
Subject: !!! INSTRUCTIONS TO DELIVER YOUR PACKAGE !!!
!!! INSTRUCTIONS TO DELIVER YOUR PACKAGE !!!
Attention: Valuable Customer,
We wish to inform you that the Diplomatic Agent conveying the package
valued the sum of $2.5Million United State Dollars misplaced your Current
address on transit and he is currently stranded at (North Carolina
International Airport) with your package which contained ATM MASTER CARD.
you are required to contact him and re-confirm the following information
below to enable him deliver the Package that contained your compensation
fund to you today.
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:(agentdavidmark085@gmail.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 for
security seasons and for know circumstances should you tell him the
content to avoid losing the package and the package was registered as
family treasures,
so never allow him to open the package and 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 someone else and
remember that the only fee you have to pay is $195 for clearance
certificate.
Yours In Service,
Mrs. Michelle King,
Director D.H.L Company Benin.
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Anti-fraud resources:
