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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 fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
- 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)
- "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "diplomatic immunity" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "diplomatic agent" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist 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.
- ahmedbello.mgr@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Ahmed Bello <ahmedbello.mgrgtbank@yahoo.com.my>
Reply-To: ahmedbello.mgr@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 14 Nov 2011 23:58:34 +0800 (SGT)
Subject: Good Day.
Good Day.
I am delighted to inform you that the Guarantee Trust Bank Plc (GTB)
Management through the office of Mr. President have decided to call back
all approved fund payment through offshore payment center following
directives from UNITED NATIONS & WORLD BANK and have concluded
arrangements to pay your beneficiary/contractual fund by cash through
Diplomatic Agent.The Agent will be delivering the cash in a Machine sealed
consignment to your door step as my bank have temporarily stopped further
payment via wire transfer this quarter.
Diplomatic. In this regard, we are going to send your
inheritance/contractual part-payment of USD10.5Million only to you via our
accredited Diplomatic Agent shipping company and we have secured every
needed document to cover the delivery of the money.Note:The money is
coming to you on 2 security proof boxes. The boxes are sealed with
synthetic nylon seal and padded with machine. The boxes are coming with a
Diplomatic agent who will accompany the boxes to your house address. All
you need to do is to send to me the below information's.
1) Full Name
2) Full house address
3) Your mobile phone
4) Any form of identification.The Diplomat attached will travel with it.
He will call you immediately he arrives your
country's airport.
5)Age and Occupation.
Note:The diplomat does not know the original contents of the boxes. What l
declared to them as the contents is Sensitive Photographic Film Materials
for security reasons. I did not declare money to them please. If they call
you and ask you the contents please tell them the same thing Ok.
You will secure the Diplomatic immunity clearance certificate, which will
make it pass every custom checkpoint all over the world without hitch.
Confirm the receipt of this message and re-send the requirements to me
immediately you receive this message.
Please I need your urgent reply because the boxes are scheduled to live as
soon as we hear from you.
I will call you as soon as l get your contact info for further directives
Make sure you reply us on this email address (ahmedbello.mgr@gmail.com)
Yours Truly,
Dr Ahmed Bello
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