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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:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "western union" (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. )
- "dear beneficiary," (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
- "charles c. 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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
- 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.
- +2348020886462 (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.
- westuniondept@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <westuniondept@hotmail.com>
Date: Fri, 29 May 2009 10:01:48 +0100
Subject: CBN OFFICIAL PAYMENT NOTIFICATION!
CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA
Tinubu Square, Lagos Island, Nigeria.
Telephone: +234-1-738 9540
Email: info@centralgroups.net
>From the Desk of: Prof. Charles C. Soludo
The Executive Governor (CBN)
Dear Beneficiary,
We hereby write to officially notify you about the present arrangement made by The Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) at a recently concluded meeting held behind close door with the United Nation Officials.
The Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) and the United Nation Officials has mandated us to return USD$20, 000.00 to you as compensation and we have made arrangement for the fund to be wired back to you in two batches (US$10, 000.00 each) through Western Union Money Transfer Services with immediate effect.
You are hereby advice to contact our Western Union Department immediately with your details below to enable them carry out this payment.
Full Name:
Address:
Tel No.:
Mob No.:
Email:
WESTERN UNION DEPARTMENT CONTACT DETAILS:-
CONTACT PERSON: MR. OSAZE KELLY
OFFICE TELEPHONE: +234-1-738 9540
MOBILE PHONE: +234-802 088 6462
Email: westuniondept@hotmail.com
Email: westernunion@centralgroups.net
Please ensure to notify this office as soon as you have picked up the funds.
Congratulation in Advance.
Best Regards,
For and On Behalf of
Central Bank of Nigeria
Prof. Charles C. Soludo
Executive Governor (CBN
Email: info@centralgroups.net
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