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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. )
- "demurrage " (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. )
- "money gram" (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. )
- "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.
- 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: Diplomat A-Pena <legnum000@yahoo.co.jp>
Reply-To: Diplomat A-Pena <officialdiplomat16@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 24 Sep 2014 19:47:48 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Re: Your Package Is Available For Clearance
Good Morning Beneficiary
It’s me diplomat Anthony Pena, the new appointed diplomat to escort delivery of your consignment from the Security Company. I hope all is well with you and your family today? I must let you know that am not happy the way you kept me in a dark without any update on how to settle issue of your consignment entrance clearance.
I am sending this email message to you now with tears because you promised to protect me against been stranded, but am confused on what is going on now? How can I been struggling to safeguard your trunk consignment worth of $40.5Million against further inspection that might lead to physical screening and you don’t care about it.
I just got a call early this morning from one the Custom Officers that promised to help me in clearing your consignment box the first day we arrived Houston International Airport that he have finally resolved the obstacle surrounding your consignment entrance clearance and we have been to the Cargo Warehouse for presentation of the obtained entrance clearance certificate and release of your consignment so I can proceed with the final delivery and was made to understand after their confirmation on the presented clearance that your consignment box has accumulated demurrage of $975.00 and need to pay it off, but I only have $450.00 left with me right now.
So am contacting you to see if you can get the balance of $525.00 here in Houston using faster means of Money Gram or Western Union to the below Mrs. Margarita information so she can pickup the payment and submit to the Cargo Warehouse for immediate release of your consignment box today.
Receiver: Margarita D. May
Address: Houston, Texas 77083, USA.
Please hurry up and get back to me with the transfer pickup information and I will get back to you with my arrival time to your place today.
You can call me 206 317 4643 or send the MTCN number by email reply as soon as you make the payment.
Thanks for your understanding as I can't wait to meet you.
Â
Yours in service,
Â
Mr. Anthony John Pena
Special Diplomat to the American Embassy
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Anti-fraud resources:
