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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. )
- "inheritance funds" (a common phrase found 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.
- kaufman.nickolas12@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Nickolas Kaufman" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <nickolaskaufmannickolas@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 24 Sep 2022 07:54:57 +0100
Subject: My name is Nickolas Kaufman...
Attention:
My name is Nickolas Kaufman from INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT(ICC)
The Hague Netherlands,Your inheritance funds which is now pending
needs a court release clearance certificate from ICC has been
submitted to my office here at ICC Headquarters for investigation and
subsequent payment, The compensation funds upon verification is
strictly by ATM VISA CARD AND INTERNATIONAL BANK DRAFT as received in
partnership with HSBC LONDON UK.
If interested in your payment i will need you reconfirm your below information:
1, Your full names, your contact address with country of origin
2, Your direct phone/whatsapp number and a copy of your photo identification.
Your fund has been approved for payment by the (INTERNNATIONAL
CRIMINAL COURT (ICC) in partnership with the HSBC bank London UK
through ATM VISA CARD AND INTERNATIONAL BANK DRAFT to avoid payment
stoppages occasioned by bank fraudulent activities.
Upon the receipt of your response and the information requested for
above, I shall be sending you soft copies of the ATM VISA CARD AND
THE BANK DRAFT AS ALLOCATED WITH THE SUM OF USD 1 MILLION FOR THE BANK
DRAFT AND USD 500K FOR THE ATM VISA CARD.
Do revert back to me upon the receipt of this mail for further
guidance on how to receive this instruments and discounts your
payments with my work ID.
Please contact me with my private e-mail:kaufman.nickolas12@yahoo.com
Yours Faithfully
Nickolas Kaufman
INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT(ICC)Hague Netherlands
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Anti-fraud resources:
