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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. )
- "dear beneficiary," (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
- "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.
- edwardkenneth190@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "DIPLOMAT KENNETH EDWARD" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <edwardkenneth190@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 29 Oct 2023 02:54:06 -0700
Subject: My Successful Arrival at San Francisco International Airport
Dear Beneficiary,
I have been trying to reach you on telephone just to inform you about
my successful arrival at San Francisco International Airport
California with your Atm Card Parcel worth $10.5m {Ten Million Five
Hundred Thousand Dollars} which I have been instructed by ECOWAS
COURIER DELIVERY COMPANY to be delivered to you at your door step. The
Airport authority demanded for all the legal back up papers to prove
to them that the fund is no way related with drug money, I have
presented the papers I handed to them and they are very much pleased
with the paper's I presented but the only thing that is still keeping
me here is the Yellow Tag Clearance Permit which is not placed on the
Parcel, one of the Airport Authority has advise that we get the Yellow
Tag so that I can exit the airport immediately and make my delivery
successful to your home address. I try to reason with them and they
stated that the yellow tag will cost us just $150 Dollars only to get
the Tag placed on the Parcel as that tag will enable me deliver your
Atm Card safely without any hitch.
Please try and reach me with my number +1 (301) 244-9997 text messages
and also send me email as I cannot afford to spend more time here due
to other delivery, I have to take care of. Re-confirm to me your
contact information as stated above to avoid rung delivery:
Full Name...............
Direct Telephone Number ...........
Delivery Address .............
You can send the tag fees using Apple Gift Card to enable me quicken
action on the delivery of your Atm Card as planned.
NOTE: You must stop all further contact or communication with every
other person or Offices regarding your Funds because it is only me
Diplomat Joe McDonald that have the legitimate right and mandate to
pay you accordingly. These mentioned criminal suspects attempted to
secretly divert your Funds into an unknown Account in Europe.
As soon as I received the Apple Card $150 Dollars, I will precede my
journey to your above address without any further delay.
Regard
DIPLOMAT KENNETH EDWARD
Telephone: +1 (301) 244-9997
Email: edwardkenneth190@gmail.com
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Anti-fraud resources:
