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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. )
- "tax clearance" (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. )
- "million united state dollars" (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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "inland revenue" (Tax offices mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. Even after you pay their fake tax demands you will still not receive the non-existent funds you have been promised. )
- "tax clearance" (Tax offices mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. Even after you pay their fake tax demands you will still not receive the non-existent funds you have been promised. )
- "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.
Fraud email example:
From: UNCC <fmo.finance@financier.com>
Reply-To: UNCC <gra8lima@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 9 Sep 2015 00:57:28 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Compensation Fund
The United Nations Compensation Commission (UNCC) was created in 1991 as a subsidiary organ of the UN Security Council. Its mandate is to process claims and pay compensation for those who losses their money on their effort to claim their award and for Global Humanitarian Assistance. United nation compensation commission Cotonou Regional District.
This is to inform you that United Nations Compensation Commission (UNCC) in conjunction with
international monetary fund (IMF) has jointly agreed to pay a compensation sum of One million united state dollars ($1000.000.00 USD) to you as a scam victim, this
compensation fund signed in your name because your name and e-mail address was listed as one of the scam victim. We have done a lot towards the
eradication of fraudsters and our operation unit, Cyber Criminality is taken most concern towards this ugly act.
All matters relating to the immediate release of your compensation fund has been regularized therefore as non residential beneficiary, to file the claim of your compensation fund, you need the service of the State Attorney whom will assist you in Inland Revenue Service in other to obtain NON RESIDENTIAL TAX CLEARANCE CERTIFICATE (NRTCC) in your name for the release of your fund.
Regarding the processing of the Non Residential Tax Clearance Certificate (NRTCC) in your name, you need to contact the State attorney Mr. Raymond. Contact him on his
email and phone
number below:
Name: Barr: Andy Raymond
State Attorney United Chamber
B.P. 03-2135 Cotonou district
Phone: 0022996418005
Fax: 002292168511
You need to contact him today and explain to him that you are instructed to contact him by United nation compensation commission regional district Mr. Emmanuel Rolland to assist you obtain Non
Residential Tax Clearance Certificate
(NRTCC) for the release of your Compensation sum of $1.000.000.00 USD. You need to be sincere and serious with him so that he will attend to your service urgently.
Send the following information to him for processing of your NRTCC:
1. YOUR HOUSE OR OFFICE ADDRESS 5.OCCUPATION 6. YOUR PHONE NUMBER(S)
We wish to advice you to be very careful in any further communication with those people who are promising you millions of united state dollars over the internet so that you will not be scam again.
Best regards
Mr. Emmanuel ObiUNCC Representative
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Anti-fraud resources: