joewein.de LLC fighting spam and scams on the Internet

Try our spam filter! Free trial for 30 days

"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
• "Is that email a scam?" - Check it online here!
  
• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
  (+225 +229 +234 +27 +31 +32 +34 +44 other)
• Company names mentioned in 419 spam:
  1 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
• Support our efforts to stop scams!
  
• How to report 419 spam to us
• What can you do when you receive 419 spam
  
  
• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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.

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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "outstanding contractors" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "foreign remittance department" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
  • "charles soludo" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
  • "executive governor" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
  • "central bank of nigeria" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
  • "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
  • "certified bank draft" (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: charles soludo <csolub2000@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <chartles_soludo55@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Thu, 20 Sep 2007 18:34:25 +0100
Subject: IMMEDIATE CONTRACT PAYMENT


CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA
TINUBU SQUARE,VICTORIA LAND,
LAGOS-NIGERIA


[OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR]
CONTRACT #: MAV/NNPC/FGN/MIN/009,Swift Code: BPH KPL PK,A/C#: 329606=101244=169=678FOREIGN REMITTANCE DEPARTMENTCENTRAL BANK NIGERIAOur Ref: CBN/IRD/CBX/021/04

ALTERNATIVE PRIVATE MAIL:Prof. Charles Soludo.Executive Governor,Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) ATTN:
IMMEDIATE CONTRACT PAYMENT.CONTRACT #:MAV/NNPC/FGN/MIN/009 From the records of outstanding contractors due forpayment with the Federal Government of Nigeria, yourname and company was discovered as next on the list of the outstanding contractors who have not yet received their payments. I wish to inform you that your payment is beingprocessed and will be released to you as soon as yourespond to this letter. Also note that from my recordin my file your outstanding contract payment isUS$20m united states dollars).Kindly re-confirm to me the followings: 1) Your full name.2) Phone, fax and mobile #.3) Company name, position and address.4) Profession, age and marital status.5) Scanned copy of int'l passport.
As soon as this information is received, your paymentwill be made to you in a certified bank draft or wiredto your nominated bank account directly from CentralBank of Nigeria. You can mail me on my direct mail address because we are experiencing some telecommunication problems. as soon as you receive this letter for further discussion or get back to me on this email. Regards,



Prof. Charles Soludo.Executive Governor,Central Bank of Nigeria {CBN}
_________________________________________________________________
News, entertainment and everything you care about at Live.com. Get it now!
http://www.live.com/getstarted.aspx

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam