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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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. )
- "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. )
- "mtcn" (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. )
- "you are advise to" (this email uses bad English)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- 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.
- This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- 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.
- dhlcompany191@yahoo.com.sg (Yahoo, Singapore; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "MR.EMEKA WILLIAMS" <emekawilliams483@yahoo.dk>
Reply-To: dhlcompany191@yahoo.com.sg
Date: Sat, 16 Mar 2013 14:13:42 +0600 (BDT)
Subject: CONTACT DHL FOR YOUR TRACKING NUMBER
Dear Friend!
I sent your ATM MASTER CARD worth sum of [USD$2.500.000] as we agreed
through DHL Company and the Tracking Number is: 1059858951. Type:
www.dhl.com then insert the Tracking number for confirmation.This morning
I tracked the Number and found Clearance Delay in it, so I decided to
contact the DHL Company and know what its. I was told by the DHL Manager
you need to provide sum of USD$ 59.00 for Clearance Certificate so that
the same will be forwarded to DHL Head Office in your City for Clearance.
I want you to act accordingly by sending the fee today and get your ATM
CARD cleared from DHL Company in your City. The DHL Manager assured me
that within 45-minutes of obtaining this Clearance Certificate from Custom
Office here you must confirm your ATM CARD while your ATM CARD Pincode is:
8684 and immediately you confirm the Card you will start using it.
Here is the Dhl Company Contact
Addres No,9 ste vill nowvel Cotonou
Email,dhlcompany191@yahoo.com.sg
Phone Number +22998838372
You are advise to send the Clearance Charge through Western Union Money
Transfer to the following name:
Receiver's Name: ilochi Alex
Receiver's Country:Benin
Receiver's City: Cotonou
Test Question: How Long
Test Answer: 45 Minutes.
Amount: $59.00
MTCN#
SENDER'S NAME:
Kindly Track the above DHL Tracking number for confirmation while I will be
waiting for your immediate reply.
Thank You for being patient.
Mr.Emeka Williams.
Atm Depatment Offcer
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Anti-fraud resources:
