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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. )
- "western union" (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. )
- "money gram" (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. )
- "money transfer control number" (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. )
- "consignment " (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)
- "diplomatic agent" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "high court" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "federal high court" (This court is often mentioned in '419' scams to give the victim a reason why he/she should send thousands of dollars to the scammers. A 'Federal High Court' exists in Germany and Nigeria, but not in other countries, such as the UK, Spain, Netherlands, Senegal, Benin, South Africa or other countries where fake lawyers in scams often claim to be based. )
- "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.
- Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
Fraud email example:
From: "Hon Mr. Douglas H Shulman" <head1@juno.ocn.ne.jp >
Reply-To: "Hon Mr. Douglas H Shulman" <head.offce1@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 28 Jun 2018 03:12:45 +0900 (JST)
Subject: U.S Internal Revenue Service Department
U.S Internal Revenue Service Department
Internal Revenue Service United States Department of the Treasury
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Bureau of Consular Affairs Washington , DC 20520Greeting from USA I.R.S,
Attention: Dear Consignment Owner
We write to inform you that your Consignment box with reference number (2661428) has been in Customs facility custody waiting for resolutions of the Clearance Paper to further the delivery of your consignment box to your doorstep by the assigned Diplomatic Agent.
We have been waiting for you to contact us since regarding your consignment box which the agent suppose to deliver to you but was on held by US Customs and Border Protection and requested for Clearance Certificate which will obtain from the origination of your consignment box before it will be released by the Customs to the delivery agent to complete your delivery to your house.
After the phone call we made on your behalf to US Customs Authority and the Government of Benin Republic, it was resolved that the delivery of your consignment will must be completed within the next two (2) working days upon your compliance to our directives because you shall required to pay only sum of $40.00 Dollars to obtain the needed Ownership Clearance Certificate from the Federal High Court of Benin.
Note; the Clearance charges which was initially on the high price has been cut down by DHL diplomatic in Benin considering the poor economic situations that make it difficult for the middle class of citizens to meet up with the Clearance of their consignment.
We will upon the confirmation of your clearing charge assign our Diplomat Agent to proceed the delivery to your destination once you notify us with the payment information and the needed Ownership Clearance Certificate from Benin, The US Customs will release your consignment to you and it will be delivered to you by our assigned diplomatic agent,
So we were definitely expecting the payment details for the immediate obtaining of your Ownership Clearance Certificate and you are to pay the Clearance Charges to the origination of your consignment in favor of .Chris Dave, as our account officer in Benin and the $40.00 Dollars should send via Western Union once you receive this notice with the information given below for immediate release of your consignment
Below are the Western Union or Money Gram or Ria Money Transfer details on how you will make the payment:
Receiver's Name:::: Chris Dave
Country:::::::: Benin Republic
City::::::: Cotonou
Amount::::: $40.00
Test Question:::: Honest
Test Answer:: Trust
Sender's Name::::??
Money Transfer Control Number:::??
Once you send the money please try to notify us with the MTCN so that we will be in touch with Chris Dave. for easy pick up and for immediate action on the obtaining of your Ownership Clearance Certificate.
Note that any unclaimed consignment will be return to Benin Republic Government after 5 days. So you are urgently advised to comply with our directives so that the Customs will release your consignment as soon as urgent.
ThanksYours Sincerely.
Hon Mr. Douglas H Shulman, Email: Commissioner of Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
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