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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 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:
- "cost of transfer" (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 document" (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. )
- "account opening" (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 us 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)
- "economic and financial crime commission" (This name is often mentioned in money recovery scams (re-scam): the real EFCC does not contact victims to offer to get their money back because that is near impossible. )
- "(efcc)" (This name is often mentioned in money recovery scams (re-scam): the real EFCC does not contact victims to offer to get their money back because that is near impossible. )
- "diplomatic immunity" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "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.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. Lawson Herbert" <www.@cronos.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: "Mr. Lawson Herbert" <officialinformation@yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 11 Apr 2018 07:38:12 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Online Notification Access Program
This is an Official Email from our Office here Nigeria (EFCC) ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL CRIME COMMISSION inform you that your ATM Card which is awaiting delivery still Office Homeland Security United States Of American have already send back to your Fund Origin here Federal Government Of Nigeria since last week the reason why will email you today because our President His Excellence Muhammadu Buhari taught to email ask you are you interested to receive your Compensation Fund worth sum of $3.5 Million Us Dollars if you're not interested will need your urgent respond immediately before it will be transferred into Government Property, the reason is that we are waiting since so long to get your Diplomatic Immunity Seal Of Transfer Sign from High Commissioner ECOWAS Nigeria will did not hear your respond since then and give you alot of chance to get it done.
Meanwhile will need your mind suggestion to know what will do from now till Friday this week your ATM Card already back to Nigeria and we gave instruction here you can choose your opinion how you like to receive your Fund easily because your Fund still belong to you if will did not hear from you till Friday this week end next week Monday your Fund will be transferred into Nigeria Government Account.
Basically, there are Three (3) options for you to get your fund transferred to you. These options include 1.Bank To Bank Transfer 2, Bank Account Opening 3, ATM Card Payment/Bank draft. You are to make your preferred and affordable choice from the three options below: Option (1)
Bank To Bank Transfer: This is a direct electronic transfer that will enable you receive the sum of money in any account that you will provide for this Bank to effect the transfer as it is always done electronically. It will take three (3) business days to reflect in the account that you will provide.
Cost of transfer:................$220
VAT:.............................$55
Insurance:.......................$75
Total:.............................$350
Option (2) Bank Account Opening: You will have to open a new Bank account here and it will be registered for international transfer and you can make an on line transfer as it will take 24Hours to get the account done.
Account Opening:..................$150
VAT:..............................$30
Non Residential Permit:...........$25
Insurance:........................$30
Total:.............................$235
Option (3)
Client Card/Bank draft Payment: You will have to receive an ATM Card and approved clearance documents this will take two (2) business days to deliver to your doorstep. We will have to use our courier company to deliver the parcel to your location.
Post Fee:........................$120
VAT:.............................$20
Insurance:.......................$47
Total:............................$187
Note: Your funds are protected by a hardcover insurance policy, which makes it impossible to deduct any amount from the money before it can be remitted to you. This means that the above charges cannot be deducted from the Funds and hence must be provided by you before your fund is transferred to you.
Respectful
Mr.Lawson Herbert
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Anti-fraud resources:
