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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 phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "terrorist clearance certificate" ("anti-terrorist", "anti-money laundering" or "drug-free" certificates are a common way for criminals in fake lottery scams and other Advance Fee scams to get you to send money to them. There are no such certificates in the real banking world. )
- "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. )
- "fund beneficiary" (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.
- 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.
- inter.monetary@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
- director dr.judge benson through his direct e-mail (inter.monetary@yahoo.com) contact dr.dr.judge benson with the contact information (Yahoo; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. Joseph Kaboman" <graziw@caiweb.com.br>
Reply-To: inter.monetary@yahoo.com
Date: Sun, 28 Jan 2018 20:37:04 -0200 (BRST)
Subject: Your E-mail won the money
--
Dear Fund Beneficiary!!!
I am Mr. Joseph Kaboman the Secretaria of Customer Care on
International Transaction at Diamond bank Benin Head Quarter This E-mail
has been issued to you in order to officially inform you that we have an
instruction on an International Payment in which was issued to you by
Benin Federal Government for the lost you have gone through your
transactions here. With the help of our media Organisation (International
Monitoring Network System), we discovered that your E-mail address was
selected by the System as one of the victim and it has legally won you the
sum of $4.5million USD from the Federal Government. and we have been
authorized to paid it to you via INTERNATIONAL CASHIER'S BANK DRAFT. that
will be cash able from any International Bank in your country or cash
delivery been the only way you would receive Your money to avoid paying
excess charges.
As regard to this arrangement,
You are
advised to contact the Telex Director DR.JUDGE BENSON through his direct
E-mail (inter.monetary@yahoo.com) Contact DR.DR.JUDGE BENSON with the
contact information below. Telex Director Diamond Bank Benin
Name: DR. JUDGE BENSON
Direct Email:(judgeben@aol.com)
DIRECT
TEL: +229-61761755
You will be required to E-mail him with the
following information:
1. Name in full.
2. Address.
3.
Nationality.
4. Age.
5. Occupation.
6. Phone No.
7.
Present Country.
8. Fax [optional].
9. Email address.
10.
Sex.
******************************
Be also informed that
the Fund Approvals and authorization document including Anti-terrorist
Clearance Certificate was issued with your Email address And has been
handed over to DR.SHITU ABUBAKAR to release the money to you.finally,
DR.SHITU ABUBAKAR is standby to receive your communication and Release
your fund to you through Cash delivery without further delay. Make your
contact directly to him through Email contact any time because We are
working 24 Hours to be able to meet with the mandate given by the World
Bank
Thanks for your maximum
cooperation. Mr. Joseph
Kaboman
Secretaria of Customer Care on International Transaction.
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Anti-fraud resources:
