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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 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)
- "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.
Fraud email example:
From: MR ADERSON JERRY <accountalert011@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: mrs.jenniferedward@yahoo.in
Date: Sat, 26 Nov 2011 12:34:32 -0800 (PST)
Subject: MATTERS OF URGENCY
MATTERS OF URGENCY
THIS IS TO INFORM YOU ABOUT THE CURRENT STATUS OF THE SHIPMENT, MY EFFORT TO DELIVER YOUR PACKAGE TO YOUR MAILING ADDRESS AS IT WAS SCHEDULED HAS BEEN STOPPED AT MIAMI INTERNATIONAL PORT (UNITED STATE ) PRIOR TO THEIR DEMANDING FOR THE CLEARANCE CERTIFICATE.
THIS WAS RECOVERED DURING NORMAL CHECK ON AGENT VALUABLE AT MIAMI INTERNATIONAL PORT U S A. SO YOU ARE REQUESTED AS A MATTERS OF URGENCY TO CONTACT THE DELIVERY COMPANY SO THAT THEY WILL OBTAIN THE CERTIFICATE TO ENABLE ME DELIVER YOUR PACKAGE AT YOUR INDICATED MAILING ADDRESS IN THE NEXT HRS.
ALTERNATIVELY, I HAVE CONTACTED THE DELIVERY COMPANY THIS MORNING AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE CERTIFICATE WILL COST SUM OF $99.00 SO YOU ARE REQUESTED TO INDICATE IMMEDIATELY AND CONTACT THE SHIPMENT COURIER COMPANY SO THAT THEY SHALL APPLY FOR THE CERTIFICATE FROM (E C O WA S)CLEARANCE AGENCY THE ONLY AUTHORIZED AGENCY TO ISSUE SUCH CLEARANCE.
I SHALL ENSURE THAT YOUR CONSIGNMENT IS DELIVERED TO YOUR MAILING ADDRESS TODAY ONCE YOU PROVIDED THE CLEARRANCE PAPERS . MAKE SURE YOU CONTACT (MRS.JENNIFER EDWARD) THE DIRECTOR IN CHARGE OF THIS CLEARANCE IMMEDIATELY YOU RECEIVE THIS EMAIL FOR THE (CERTIFICATE COPY).
MAKE SURE YOU CONTACT HER TODAY WITH THIS EMAIL ADDRESS:(mrs.jenniferedward@yahoo.in)
ASK HER WHERE YOU WILL OBTAIN THE(CERTIFICATE) AND WHERE YOU CAN SEND THE $99.00
THANKS REGARDS TO MR ADERSON JERRY
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Anti-fraud resources:
