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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. )
- "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. )
- "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)
- "high court" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "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.
- 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.
- dw5948243@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Mr David Wilson <smithdavid58000@gmail.com>
Reply-To: dw5948243@gmail.com
Date: Tue, 11 Jan 2022 13:01:45 +0100
Subject: ATTENTION: PAYMENT APPROVAL NOTIFICATION
ATTENTION: PAYMENT APPROVAL
NOTIFICATION
We are very sorry for what has happened for you in this our Country, My
name is Mr. David Wilson the Inspector General of Police Benin Republic,
This is to inform you that the Government of this country Benin Republic
has decided to offer you the sum of $950.000.00 USD as the result of what
happened to you and the instruction is that you will receive it by any
option of your choice by ATM CARD or WESTERN UNION TRANSFER because you
have been waiting to receive it.
We were able to get your email through those that extorted money from you
when the police got them arrested. One of them gave us your email address
and called his name Jerry Wilfred. The president of this country His
Excellency has sent aside the sum of $950.000.00 us Dollars to be sent to
you.
We hereby inform you that we have made a concrete arrangement with the
Courier Delivery Company and WESTERN UNION for the transfer depending on
your choice for a safe delivery or transfer to your door-step or bank
account once the beneficiary meets up the demand of the conveyance.
Note that all the arrangement has been paid on your behalf. But you are
advised to send only $150.00 usd immediately to our office for your
clearance certificate because our agent will proceed to Du' Benin High
Court to process it, so that he should get the certificate before your fund
can be released to you.
The certificate will be used to obtain the transaction,So you advice to
email inspector general of police Benin Republic Office immediately with
your full information for delivery of your consignment or for the transfer
of your fund depending your choice and also to enable our office confirm
that you are the real owner of this Email
address to avoid any mistake.E-Mail:(dw5948243@gmail.com)
Your Full Name..
Your Country..
Your City...
Your Telephone Number..
The Amount You Lost...
Your Passport....
Your Age..
You are advised to send the fee of $150.00 usd with the below details
through money gram or Western union.
Receiver's Name:::::AKWUOBI CHIBUOZOR
Country::::::::Benin Republic.
Address::: ::::No 0023 BP Avotrou Cotonou,
Text Question::::: when...
Answer: ::::::Now...
Amount ::::::$150.00 usd
Sender's Name:...
Ref Number#:..
Sender’s address...
BEST REGARDS.
Mr David wilson dhl.org.host01
E-mail:(dw5948243@gmail.com)
Your DIPLOPMATIC.
From: COURIER DELIVERY COMPANY.
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