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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:
- "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. )
- "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. )
- 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.
- sanusisenatorjoseph@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: Senator joseph sanusi <senatorsanusij@gmail.com>
Reply-To: senotorsanusi@gmail.com
Date: Tue, 14 Jun 2016 09:38:46 +0000
Subject: Hello My good best Friend
I have a good news for you, i have paid the fee for you and your funds
has been forwarded to international central bank plc , now you can
transfer your funds online by yourself, so Click on the link below
then type in your Valid/Correct email address and password to start
your transfer now:
ONLINE | TRANSFER REGISTRATION
website
http://icbankplc.tk
Reply back if you have any question.
EMAIL:sanusisenatorjoseph@gmail.com
TRANSFER ACTIVATION CODE:TAC564387
C.O.T CODE:COT63521
NON RESIDENCE TAX CLEARANCE CODE:TC35683
IMF TRANSFER APPROVAL CODE:IMF252597
sanusisenatorjoseph@gmail.com
Best Regards,
SANUSI JOSEPH
GENERAL HQ.
DIRECTOR CENTRAL BANK.
ONLINE | TRANSFER
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CBN BANK
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Anti-fraud resources:
