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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 fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
- 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. )
- "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "diplomatic immunity" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "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.
- office.lt.gen.abdulidris01@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: joedykea <joedykea@gmail.com>
Reply-To: office.lt.gen.abdulidris01@gmail.com
Date: Fri, 2 Feb 2018 11:49:42 +0100
Subject: Hello pls get to me
Attn Dear.
This is my second mail to you and I hope you read it this time and get
back to me urgently before it becomes late. I am Lt. Gen. Abdul
idris Chief Security Adviser to Saif al-Islam Gaddafi son of the
killed leader of the Libya. I decided to contact you because of the
prevailing security report reaching me now and the intense nature of
the situation. This is to inform you about our plan to send some fund
in our possession to you via cash delivery. This system will be easier
for you and for us as we do not have any other option at the moment.
We are in a situation where we may be caught any time because the
ECOWAS head of states {Economic Community of West African States} have
just secretly issued a warrant of arrest for us. We have about
USD$39.5million in our possession carefully packed. We need to send
you this money urgently so you can receive and keep it for us. We know
that once we are caught the money will be confiscated. We intend to
hand ourselves in and possibly serve the jail term attached.
Note: The money is coming on security proof box. The box is sealed
with synthetic nylon seal and padded with machine. This fund was
brought to us from America; it was meant for the purchase of arms to
fight the rebels before we were over powered.
A top government official will accompany the boxes to your house
address in your country. All you need to do now is to send to me the
following:
Your full name, Your house address, Your identity such as,
international passport or driver license, Your contact phone and fax
numbers.
The government official who is our close ally will call you
immediately he arrives in your country's airport. I hope you
understand me. I will let you know by the special grace of God when
the boxes are airlifted.
Note: The government official does not know the original content of
the box. What l declared to them as the content is sensitive
government documents. I did not declare money to them please. If they
call you and ask you the contents tell them the same thing. I will
secure a Diplomatic immunity clearance certificate that will be tagged
on the boxes to make it stand as a diplomatic item and pass every
custom checkpoint all over the world without hitch.
I need your urgent reply because the boxes are schedule to leave as
soon as we hear from you. Reply me immediately you receive this
message via my private E-mail :( office.lt.gen.abdulidris01@gmail.com)
I will give you other details once I hear from you.
Best Regards,
Lt. Gen.Abdul idris,
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Anti-fraud resources:
