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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)
- "central bank of nigeria" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- 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: "Alhaji Suleiman Barau (OON) (Board Member)" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <alhajlaltyumalbornu@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 25 Mar 2015 01:31:18 -0800
Subject: FYI
FROM THE DESK OF:
Alhaji Suleiman Barau (OON) (Board Member)
Deputy Governor, Corporate Services Directorate
C.B.N,DEBT RECONCILIATION Committee on Contract/Inheritance payment
Tel/Fax:234-808-034-8517
FOR YOUR INFORMATION:
I am Alhaji Suleiman Barau (OON) of the Central Bank of Nigeria on foreign Debt reconciliation committee on contract/inheritance payment. Before i continue, I advice you to stop any further communication with any office or person(s) till you receive your approved compensation payment as directed by the Federal Ministry of Finance. You have been allocated with a new Payment Reference "No.-NG-11-99-13" including NNPC Released Code No:CB/XX)@$T!MQ.Having received these vital payment release numbers,you are qualified now to received and confirm your payment via MT03 Bank Swift Transfer within 72 banking hrs upon receipt of this notice.
Now you are directed to contact C.B.N foreign Debt reconciliation committee with the Central Bank of Nigeria(CBN) with the below information for immediate release and transfer of your fund by MT03 Swift Bank Transfer. You are required to forward your advised Personal Information for easy intercommunication with the above reference number Codes for easy identification of your payment.
You are to get back to this office within 24 hours for further transfer instruction of your funds.
Regards,
Alhaji Suleiman Barau (OON) (Board Member)
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Anti-fraud resources:
