joewein.net   joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
Try our spam filter!
 Free trial for 30 days
   jwSpamSpy
Home
About Us
Spam
419/Nigeria
Fraud
Contact

"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.

 

 

Fraud email example:

From: "profcharlessoludo" <SldCharles@netscape.net>
Date: Wed, 16 Mar 2005 07:20:05 -0500
Subject: IMMEDIATE CONTRACT PAYMENT

CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA
INTERNATIONAL REMITTANCE DEPARTMENT
CORPORATE HEAD QUARTERS
TINUBU SQUARE LAGOS-NIGERIA.
TEL: 234-1-4347841, Fax: 234-1-7596105
EMAIL: paymentunit2005@yahoo.com
Date: 16 march, 2005

OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE GOVERNOR (CBN)

Our Ref: CBN/IRD/CBX/021/05

ATTN:


IMMEDIATE CONTRACT PAYMENT.CONTRACT #: MAV/NNPC/FGN/MIN/009.

From the records of outstanding contractors due for payment with
Government of Nigeria, your name and company was discovered as next on
the list of the outstanding contractors who have not received their
payments.

I wish to inform you that your payment is being processed and will be
released to you as soon as you respond to this letter. Also note that from my
record in my file your outstanding contract payment is US$22.5 million dollars
(twenty two million five hundred thousand united states dollars).


Please re-confirm to me if this is inline with what we have in your
record and also 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 payment will be made to
you in a certified bank draft or wired to your bank account directly from
Central Bank of Nigeria and a copy will be given to you for you to take to your
bank and confirm it.

You must call me on my direct number as soon as you receive this letter
for a serious discussion with me and also get back to me in this
private e-mail:address paymentunit2005@yahoo.com

Best Regards,
Prof. Charles Soludo.
Executive Governor
Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)
Website: www.cenbank.org


__________________________________________________________________
Switch to Netscape Internet Service.
As low as $9.95 a month -- Sign up today at http://isp.netscape.com/register

Netscape. Just the Net You Need.

New! Netscape Toolbar for Internet Explorer
Search from anywhere on the Web and block those annoying pop-ups.
Download now at http://channels.netscape.com/ns/search/install.jsp

Anti-fraud resources: