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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:
- "western union" (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 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. )
- "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)
- ",000,000" (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)
- "the diplomat " ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "courier service" (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.
- Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
Fraud email example:
From: "First Flight Courier Services" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <indianafabrics.coatedinc@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Fri, 11 Jun 2010 19:46:54 +0330
Subject: *INTERNATIONAL CLEARANCE PERMIT WILL BE OBTAINED SO CALL THE DIPLOMAT @ +1 219-232-5234 NOW..
New Page 1
CALL YOUR DIPLOMAT NOW @ THIS NUMBER +1 219-232-5234
The diplomat have concluded all necessary arrangement to deliver to but the US
Department of Treasury are requesting for International Clearance Permit which
will cost him $300 and he has done all his best to make sure he delivers to you
today as soon as he gets the $300 so do your best to send the fund to him today
so that he can obtain it and deliver to you right away.
He awaits your payment of $300 to offset all necessary charges today so that he
can deliver to you and get back to London as soon as he can and he will help you
activate your atm card which has the sum of $10,000,000.00 and just to let you
know that the balance $15,000,000.00 is in treasury bills/bonds which he has to
help you liquidate as soon as he gets to you and both of you will have to go to
the bank and liquidate the treasury bills/bonds that is worth $15,000,000.00.
Below is the Diplomat information you are to make payment to him through western
union and he will get your consignment ready.
Receiver's name: Andre Dawson
Location: Gary-Indiana
Amount: $300.00
United States of America.
Thank you and have a nice time.
Jane Philips
Head of Courier Services
First Flight Courier Services
United Kingdom
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Anti-fraud resources:
