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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 phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "terrorist clearance certificate" ("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. )
- "consignment " (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)
- "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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs. white simone" <homelands503@gmail.com>
Reply-To: mrswhitesimonefbi@gmail.com
Date: Wed, 1 Jun 2022 08:20:28 +0100
Subject: From the federal bureau of investigation (fbi)
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FBI Justice Information Services Division
Address: 7915 Microsoft way Charlotte north Carolina 28273
I am Mrs. white simone from FBI unit i have been instructed by our
former FBI Director Christopher Wray, to inform you that out of our
thorough investigation lately ,we found out that one of the abandoned
valid Packages such as CAR And Consignment Boxes worth 15.5 million
United State Dollars by diplomatic agents who complained that the
beneficiaries were not able to provide the anti terrorist clearance
certificate to guide and show that the packages is no way related to
fraud or drug money with the information we have here ,we found out
that one of the packages belongs to you,
And you are meant to report back quick with the fee for the needed
certificate(anti terrorist clearance certificate) which is $1025,in
conclusion you are advised to stop any transaction you are doing now
for this packages ,because your packages is now under our custody and
we will deliver it to you by our self.
Get back to us quick for the information you will use to send the
money and also to avoid any more delay on your fund and make sure you
provide your phone number as well for easy communication.
thanks.
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