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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 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. )
- "million dollars" (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.
Fraud email example:
From: Cedric Hence <secretaryofficeimf0988@gmail.com>
Reply-To: cedrichence904@gmail.com
Date: Tue, 19 Apr 2022 21:44:41 +0300
Subject: URGENTLY
FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION (FBI)
CLAIM YOUR COMPENSATION WINNING FUND
FROM UNITED NATION (U.N)
My name is Cedric Hence the Assistant director of FBI, I want to
notify you that we found out that one of the legit abandoned Packages
(ATM CARD WORTH $4.7 MILLION DOLLARS) belongs to you.
The diplomatic agent who was to deliver it to you complained that
he abandoned the delivery because of covid-19 and the Custom Clearance
fee of $400 and he could not be able to contact you to make the payment.
The custom brought all the abandoned packages to us for investigations and
at the same time to contact the owner's to make their Custom Clearance
payment and we deliver it to your address.
In conclusion you are advised to confirm your information with us for
security reasons and stop any transaction/communication your doing with anyone
that is related to your Compensation winning Fund because the person is an
impersonator/scammer.you will keep losing your money to them if you don't stop
and come to us here to claim what belongs to you without being scammed again.
Thanks for your understanding and cooperation.
MR.Cedric Hence.
CONGRATULATIONS IN ADVANCED!
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Anti-fraud resources:
