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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.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "million united states 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)
- ",000,000" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "charles c. soludo" (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)
- "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.
- This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- +2348060186640 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)
- 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.
- contractor_fund_release@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "soludo proffessor" <proffessors1@msn.com>
Reply-To: proffessorss3@yahoo.com
Date: Sun, 23 Nov 2008 20:21:57 +0000
Subject: Good News,Your Immediate Contract Payment Notification.
Good News,Your Immediate Contract Payment Notification.
Our Ref: CBN/IRD/CBX/021/ IMMEDIATE ,
Attention. Honorable Contractor,
During the auditing and closing of all financial records of the Central Bank
of Nigeria (CBN) it was discovered from the records of outstanding foreign
contractors due for payment with the Federal Government of Nigeria in the
year 2007 that your name and company is next on the list of those who will
received their fund.
I wish to officiallly notify you that you payment is been processed and will
be realeased to you as soon as you respond to this letter.Also note that
from thye record in our file,your outstanding payment is usd$10,000,000.00(
TEN MILLION United States Dollars).
kindly re-confirm to me if this is in line with what you have in your record
and also re confirm the information below to enable this officeproceed and
finalize your fund remittance without futher delays.
1). Your full name 2).Phone, Fax and Mobile# 3).Company name,Positionand
Address 4).Proffession,Age and Maarital status 5).Copy of driverslincense
I.D.
As soon as the above information are received, your payment will be made
availableto you via an international certified bank draft,which will be
delivered to your doorstep for yourconfirmation.Also get back to me on this
email address for futher discussion and more clarification.(
contractor_fund_release@hotmail.com )
Best Regard.
Proffesor. Charles C. Soludo
Excutive Governor Central Bank Of Nigeria (CBN)
Federation Federal Republic of Nigeria (FRN)
Direct Line; +234-806-018-6640
Anti-fraud resources:
