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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. )
- "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)
- ",500,000" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- 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.
- edwardharry@bk.ru (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Diplomat Edward Harry <barrjohnsong@gmail.com>
Reply-To: edwardharry@bk.ru
Date: Fri, 24 Sep 2021 02:47:00 -0700
Subject: I am Diplomat Edward Harry
I am Diplomat Edward Harry; United Nation Diplomat Agent in charge
for your delivery. I have been trying to reach you about an hour now
just to inform you about my successful arrival at Cincinnati/Northern
Kentucky International Airport, USA with your two consignment boxes
containing USD$2,500,000.00 (tWO million Five hundred thousand
Dollars) which I have been instructed by United Nation and the
compensation award committee to be deliver to you. The Airport
authority demanded for all the legal back up papers to prove to them
that the fund is no way related with drug nor fraud money, I have
presented the papers I handed to them and they are very much pleased
with the papers I presented but the only thing that is still keeping
me here is the airport Non-inspection Clearance Certificate which is
not placed on the boxes,
one of the Airport Authority has advise that we get the Airport
Non-inspection Clearance Certificate so that I can exit the airport
immediately and make my delivery successful .I try to reason with them
and they stated that the Airport Non-inspection Clearance Certificate
will cost us just $50 Dollars only to get the Non-inspection
Clearance Certificate to enable me get to your house successfully
without any interference.
Please try and reach me with edwardharry@bk.ru as I can not
afford to spend more time here due to other delivery I have to take
care of in Alabama. I have the documents backing up your consignment
as I can accompany you to your bank were you will deposit the fund
successfully with these papers without any stress. I have more vital
paper with me but I can only present you the hard copy when I reach
your house as that it’s the diplomatic rules.
You can direct the Non-inspection Clearance Certificate fee to our
Head Office as they will get it there for you and they are entitled to
receive and make any payment to foreign countries authority. Please
re-confirm your residential address to me to avoid mistake.
Your Full Name:………………………
Your Current address:……………………….
Direct mobile phone Number:……………………..
Home/office# Fax:…………………………………..
Country:…………………………..
State:…………………………….
Zip code:……………………
Occupation:…………………………..
Closest Int. Airport:…………..
Upon confirmation of your details your will receive instruction on how
to make the payment for the Non-inspection Clearance Certificate that
will be placed on the boxes. Once this payment is confirmed, I will
proceed with delivery immediately.
Looking forward to hearing from you and congratulations once again.
Diplomat Edward Harry
United Nation Diplomatic Agent
Email: edwardharry@bk.ru
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Anti-fraud resources:
