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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:
- "dearest one," (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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. )
- "the required fees" (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. )
- "diplomatic agent" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "contact the diplomat" ("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. )
- 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.
- cfcbenincomubagroup@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr.Joe Biden" <zenith.b.africa@gmail.com>
Reply-To: cfcbenincomubagroup@gmail.com
Date: Sun, 2 Apr 2023 13:56:42 -0800
Subject: WHY DO YOU CHOOSE TO ABANDON DIPLOMAT AGENT WITH YOUR FUNDS AT THE AIRPORT???
Attn: Dear Sole Beneficiary
Good-day my dearest one, I am Dr.Mohamed Ali, Director DHL courier
company BENIN REPUBLIC WEST AFRICA, I receive a phone call this
morning from diplomat agent Mr.JOHN OBI who we sent out there to
delivery your ATM CARD worth of $12.5M USD and he stated that he's
total stranded over-there in your country AIRPORT due to he misplace
your residential home address, please kindly contact him now through
below email address and reconfirm your home address to him immediately
to enable him
proceed and complete your delivery successfully to your home address
to avoid wrong delivery okay.
Do contact the diplomatic agent with the email below and remind him
with your full delivery address to avoid wrong delivery.
NAME:.................
ADDRESS: ..............
MOBILE NO...........
NAME OF YOUR NEAREST AIRPORT.............
A COPY OF YOUR IDENTIFICATION :...............
Please Be inform that all the required fees has been paid off but the
only money you must pay now is $55 for obtaining the clearance
certificate of your package and it's compulsory.
Contact Person: Mr.JOHN OBI
EMAIL:( cfcbenincomubagroup@gmail.com )
Phone +1(229) 258-8499
Send him Email now for Urgent Communication with you to come your
home address with your package box without any delay. For he must deliver
today to your doorstep.And come back home to Africa.
Dr.Mohamed Ali.
Ministry Of Finance.
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Anti-fraud resources:
