|
|
joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
|
|
"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:
- "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)
- 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.
- innocentyaro@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: MR AMOS CHUKWU <emmangozi@yahoo.fr>
Reply-To: innocentyaro@yahoo.com
Date: Tue, 2 Aug 2011 20:58:24 +0100 (BST)
Subject: I AM YOUR INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT NOW WITH YOUR CONSIGNMENT
ATTN; BENEFICIARY;
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 AIRPORT ( UNITED STATE ) PRIOR TO THEIR DEMANDING FOR THE CLEARANCE CERTIFICATE.
THIS WAS RECOVERED DURING NORMAL CHECK ON DIPLOMATIC VALUABLE AT MIAMI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT U S A. SO YOU ARE REQUESTED AS A MATTERS OF URGENCY TO TO CONTACT THE SHIPMENT COMPANY SO THAT THEY WILL OBTAIN THE CERTIFICATE TO ENABLE ME DELIVER YOUR PACKAGE AT YOUR INDICATED MAILING ADDRESS.
ALTERNATIVELY, I HAVE CONTACTED THE SHIPMENT COMPANY THIS MORNING AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE CERTIFICATE WILL COST SUM OF $85 SO YOU ARE REQUESTED TO INDICATE IMMEDIATELY AND CONTACT THE SHIPMENT COMPANY IMPEX COURIER KINGDOM COMPANY SO THAT THEY SHALL APPLY FOR THE CLEARANCE CERTIFICATE FROM (E C O W A S ) CLEARANCE AGENCY THE ONLY AUTHORIZED AGENCY TO ISSUE SUCH CLEARANCE.
I SHALL ENSURE THAT YOUR CONSIGNMENT IS DELIVERED TO YOUR MAILING ADDRESS ONCE YOU PROVIDED THE CEARANCE CERTIFICATE. MAKE SURE YOU CONTACT (DR INNOCENT YARO) THE DIRECTOR IN CHARGE OF SUCH CLEARANCE IMMEDIATELY YOU RECEIVE THIS EMAIL FOR THE CLEARANCE CERTIFICATE.
MAKE SURE YOU CONTACT HIM TODAY WITH THIS EMAIL ADDRESS: (innocentyaro@yahoo.com)
AS HIM WHERE YOU WILL OBTAIN THE CLEARANCE CERTIFICATE AND WHERE YOU CAN
SEND THE $85 YOUR URGENT RESPONSE IS HIGHLY NEEDED.
REGARDS,
MR AMOS CHUKWU
|
Anti-fraud resources:
