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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. )
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: shirley mcallen <lily69842@gmail.com>
Reply-To: shirleymcallens@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 11 Jul 2022 05:21:44 -0700
Subject: GREETINGS
--
ATTENTION!
Hello DEAR
THIS IS TO INFORM YOU THAT FBI
HAVE SUCCESSFUL ARRESTED MR
JERRY NICOLAS AND HIS COLLEAGUES AND WE HAVE RECOVERED THE TOTAL
AMOUNT OF MILLION of DOLLARS WHICH THOROUGHLY BELONGS TO All CITIZENS
who where victims !! After SOME INVESTIGATION AND WE HAVE DECIDED TO
RETURN IT TO All scam victims ACCORDING THE LAW AS THE WILL FACE
15YEARS IN IMPRISONMENT EACH FOR TAKING MONEY FROM YOU IN THE NAME OF
CHRISTOPHER WRAY WITHOUT DELIVERING YOUR FUND THEREFORE YOU ARE
EXPECTED TO SEND ME THE FOLLOWING DETAILS TO AVOID MISTAKE
Full names
Home address
Direct phone number
Remember anything delivery fee will won’t be paid by you!!
You’re only allowed to pay the security clearance certificate which is
very important for the delivery!! Because the certificate shows how
you own the package and also shows that the security are away Of the
deliver
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Anti-fraud resources:
