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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:
- "clearance permit" (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. )
- ",500,000" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Mrs Elizabeth Clair <samueleireed407@gmail.com>
Reply-To: infocharles@yandex.com
Date: Wed, 22 Mar 2023 05:03:57 +0100
Subject: The only solution
I am Mrs Elizabeth Clair, Access Trust account Remittance Switzerland
Director with the IMF/Switzerland budget and fiscal planning
commission.
This office as a new reform foreign debts reconciliation committee has
been constituted under the directives of the IMF/WB /UN economic
regulatory and supervisory bodies to liquidate external creditors
bills in this quarter of year 2023 by cutting all approved funds down
to $5,500,000.000 (FIVE MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS) to each
beneficiary and your file has been approved for payment and we have
come up with a resolution in agreement that every approved beneficiary
most obtain/secure INTERNATIONAL FUNDS CERTIFIED CLEARANCE PERMIT
and also delivering charge from Mr. Charles Maurice office.
Reconfirm your NAME, ADDRESS, and your direct PHONE NUMBER as
this will be needed to avoid any misappropriation as well for easy
communication.
Best Regards,
Mrs Elizabeth Clair
Access Trust account Remittance Switzerland
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Anti-fraud resources:
