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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:
- "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. )
- "certificate fee" (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. )
- "million 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)
- "you are advice to " (this email uses bad English)
- "diplomatic agent" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- 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.
- diplomatphilipalex@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Phlilp Alex <www.@biscuit.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: Phlilp Alex <diplomatphilipalex@yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, 17 Apr 2018 07:39:58 +0900 (JST)
Subject: I'm Diplomatic Agent Mr Philip Alex
I'm Diplomatic Agent Mr Philip Alex ;
I have been trying to reach you over
four hour,Please try as much as you can to reach me via my
contact TEST MESSAGE OR CALL +1 (202) 765-0403
Email:(diplomatphilipalex@yahoo.com )
Am currently in Washington D.C
International Airport USA with your ATM CARD worth $8.5
Million Dollars which I have been instructed by I.C Express
Courier Company to be delivered to you,Meanwhile you are
advice to reconfirm your information to avoid delivery to
the wrong person
1Your Full Name
2Your Delivery Address
3Your Contact Telephone Number
4Your Occupation
5Your Identification (Passport number
or ID Card number)
6Your nearest Airport
I will be proceeding to your home
address and deliver but before that you have to complete
your financial obligations, because there is a situation
here in the airport,the authority demanded for a airport
clearance certificate which must be obtain in your name
before i can exit the Airport to your home,one of the
Airport Authority has advise that we get the clearance
certificate from the fund origin through our cashier
department so that I can exit the airport Immediately and
make my delivery successful to your home.
I try to reason with them but they
persist we must obtain the certificate on your name before
they can allow me to proceed, and the airport clearance
certificate will cost us $250 Dollars only to get the
document placed on the packages as that documents will
enable me commence to your home and deliver as soon as
possible without any harassment from the authority .All you
need to do is to direct the clearance certificate fee to our
Cashier Department as they will get it for you and they are
entitled to receive and obtain any documents from foreign
countries authority.
Below is the information where the
payment of $150 will be transfer to our cashier department
for them to secure the required certificate in your name to
enable me proceed toyour home immediately.Here is the
receiver information’s.
1RECEIVER NAME: Francis Ben
2.ADDRESS.....Plot 102 Dowa Central
3.CITY......Porto Novo
4 Country ..... Benin De Republic
5..MTCN:.........?
6.SENDER NAME.....?
7.Amount:$250
Send me the payment information as soon
as you made the payment available to the name of Francis Ben
at our cashier department to enable proceed immediately the
certificate is obtained To ensure safety please don’t ever
mention this transaction to anybody no matter how close or
trusted you think the person might be to you avoid
jeopardizing this transaction until you have received your
ATM CARD.Furthermore, be informed that delivery will be made
to your doorstep.
REGARDS DIPLOMAT; Mr Philip Alex
TELEPHONE:call: +1 (202) 765-0403
Email.. (diplomatphilipalex@yahoo.com)
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