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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:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "consignment " (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)
- "dr. sanusi" (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)
- "remittancefile2011@live.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- 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.
Fraud email example:
From: office of the cbn governor <cbn2governor2office@yahoo.ca>
Reply-To: des_peter006@yahoo.com
Date: Tue, 1 Mar 2011 17:14:43 -0800 (PST)
Subject: regards
>From the Desk of CBN Governor
Dr. Sanusi Lamido Sanusi
Atten: Beneficiary
Dear Sir,
Your $5.4m Payment Approved.
Note that in regards to the ongoing contract payment debt settlement in CBN
your over due compensation contract Payment in Central Bank of Nigeria
Our Diplomts will take off to make your funds delivery to your address as
soon as i have your address CELL Phone number and email.
Be informed Sir, that this's the normal procedures in order to save and
guide your consignment funds till it gets to your nearest airport, your
yellow tag will be listed out, and paste on your consignment .
So Let me have your Cell Phone Number, E-mail and contact address. But if
you prefare direct transfer to your account then let me know .
Regards
Dr. Sanusi Lamido Sanusi
CBN Governor
Phone 234-8053517802
E-Mail: remittancefile2011@live.com
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Anti-fraud resources:
