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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. )
- "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)
- "contact the diplomat" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "the diplomat " ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "a diplomat " ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- 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.
- theresa134134@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Rev FR RussellJacks!" <atmcard6242@gmail.com>
Reply-To: theresa134134@gmail.com
Date: Tue, 16 Jun 2020 03:06:02 -0400
Subject: Urgent Attention Dear beneficiary
Attention my dear,
Compliment of the day to you and your beloved family. I am writing to inform
you that the Government of Benin has asked us to divert all unclaimed funds
that belongs to the foreigners who are not ready to receive their funds to
the
Government's treasury. Due to the fact that I really aware that you need to
receive your fund and have already spent some money and time in getting the
fund despite that you were unable to obtained the Clearance Certificate which
was demanded by the Authorities.
Due to the fact that you have spent some money and time in order to
receive the
funds, then I could not allow all the money you spent and the time you wasted
to be in vain. Therefore I cashed the fund, packaged it in a box and have
registered it with a diplomat to deliver it to your address.
The diplomat departed since 4 to 5 days ago and I have been expecting a call
from you and the diplomat because I told her to call us once she arrived at
your address so that I will speak with you to make sure she has delivered the
package to you but the call we got from the diplomat few minutes ago was
that
she has lost your information at your airport there. I should have given him
the information but I could not find it in my mailbox due to too many junk
mails we receives and we used to delete all messages everyday. I got to found
only your email address because it was in my address book but your other info
were deleted.
However, we require your urgent action and officially urge you to
reconfirm the
following information below to the diplomat right away so that she will
deliver your consignment box to you today hence she is now in your Country
with
your package.
Your full Name:....................
Home address:.....................
Your direct Tel & Fax Number:......................
Name of your nearest Air Port :......................
A copy of your identification:.......................
Please do contact the Diplomatic Agent via email with the information listed
bellow. Agent Name; Mrs. theresa(Diplomat Afloat Officer)
Phone Number + 1 2028586244
E-mail ( theresa134134@gmail.com )
Yours Faithful,
Rev FR RussellJacks!
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Anti-fraud resources:
