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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:
- "ecowas 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. )
- "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. )
- "ecowas " (the name of a person or institution often appearing 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.
- hls.wdc@mail15.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Mr Jeh Charles Johnson <"www."@crest.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: Mr Jeh Charles Johnson <hls.wdc@mail15.com>
Date: Sat, 28 Oct 2017 11:49:24 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Attention dear
Attention dear
This . Mr Jeh Charles Johnson from U.S Department of Homeland security
Washington DC and I’m writing to inform you that we recently received a
report from ECOWAS that you have long term unclaimed payment of
US$10,700.000.00 Million in West Africa while it's about to be forward into
West Africa Government account before this report came to us, and I have
instructed ECOWAS concerned authorities to bring the Fund direct to our
office here in Washington DC so we can alert you about the fund exactly as
you are reading now.
Therefore you are to reply immediately once you confirm this mail for an
attention and instruction be giving to you in how you must receive the fund
if at all you are still interested to receive the fund and not to allow it
be forwarded into West Africa Government account as a result of unclaimed
fund indeed, and in replying then advice to include your required
information here for recommendation purpose to make sure this fund get into
your care not someone else to intercede for the claim,
Full Name:
Country:
City/address:
Phone:
Identification ID.
However: advice to reply me back direct only to this below e-mail(
hls.wdc@mail15.com) and note you will need to obtain ECOWAS clearance
certificate before the claim of the fund if indeed you are the right person
to make the claim of the fund in question, while after that you will be
full authorize to have the fund by any method of your wish with the help of
this U.S Department of Homeland security Washington DC. Once again i repeat
contact me urgent only on this e-mail (hls.wdc@mail15.com).
I wait for your urgent responds stay bless johnson
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