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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. )
- "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. )
- "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. Dennis Olisa" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <zenithbankplc652@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 13 Sep 2018 14:20:23 +0100
Subject: Release of Your Compensation Fund $250,000.00!!
Dear Receiver
How are you doing?
Your Compensation Fund which is currently estimated at $250,000.00 ( Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand United States Dollars Only) has been approved by the UN/ ZENITH BANK PLC. After the last survey/draw your e-mail was randomly selected among others to receive this Fund.
All you need to do is to obtain the two certificates below for clarification and vindication of your cashier's cheque as the rightful beneficiary and also that your cheque not is legally own by you. before the cheque will leave Nigeria to deliver to you.
(1) INTERNATIONAL DELIVERY PERMITS CERTIFICATE
(2) IMF CLEARANCE CERTIFICATE
You are therefore requested to reconfirm the details below for a follow up validation of the claim and subsequent transfer of the bank instrument to your custody.
Full Name and Address
Your direct phone
Age
Sex
Occupation
Next of Kin
We shall request forward to you the scan copy of your cheque as soon as the validation exercise has been completed.
Feel free to contact me for further explanation.
Regards
Mr. Dennis Olisa
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
ZENITH BANK PLC
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