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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. )
- "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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Ammar Hussain" <noreply@headley-capital.com>
Reply-To: <ah2382630@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 4 Nov 2022 02:45:34 -0700
Subject: Greetings,
Greetings,
I am Mr. Ammar Hussain Finance and Account, Qatar Petroleum. I have one
hundred million dollars for Investment.
Contact me if you are interested, I have all what it will take to move the
fund to you as a contract fund to avoid any query from any financial
regulatory authority in the world. I will give you more details upon the
receipt of your response on
Regards,
Ammar Hussain
Finance and Account.
Qatar Petroleum
Note: Only fee you are paying is $350 for your ICRC/IFRC Membership ID, UN letter of appointment Clearance certificate to become an ambassador of Charity organization/Refugees and your International Humanitarian Charity Organization Membership ID.The above mentioned Information must be obtain for you to qualify to receive your Fund without any hindrance from your State/Country Authorities or International authorities this why you have not succeeded in receiving your awarded funds since many years.
Kind regards and stay safe
Yours Missionary
Dr.. James Robinson
ICRC/IFRC Delegates
Washington DC USA.
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