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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. )
- "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 states 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)
- 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.
- infoinf738@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Sr, Donald Brule" <johnmarques214@gmail.com>
Reply-To: infoinf738@gmail.com
Date: Thu, 24 May 2018 21:51:17 +0100
Subject: NOTIFICATION OF YOUR ATM CARD.
This is to notify you that we found a package in our custody and after our
verification we found out that it is an ATM Card and a letter attached to
the Package, stating that the Card contain the Sum of $1.8Million United
States Dollars and the Card have been verified and it was confirmed good
and valid to be use..
Mean while, before you will receive your ATM Card to your doorstep, you
have to come up with the Permit Clearance Certificate which will cost you
$370 before your CARD can be completely Delivered to your House Address
within 48hours.
Be rest assured that as soon as you comply with the directive, your
Package will be delivered to you at your home as guarantee within 48hours
Get back as soon as possible to enable the payment information forward to
you and where to send the Permit Clearance Certificate
Sr, Donald Brule
Chief Security Officer
Sms:+1 (669) 228-0445
E-mail: infoinf738@gmail.com
<https://mail.yahoo.com/neo/b/compose?to=infoinf738@gmail.com>
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Anti-fraud resources:
