joewein.de LLC fighting spam and scams on the Internet

Try our spam filter! Free trial for 30 days

"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
• "Is that email a scam?" - Check it online here!
  
• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
  (+225 +229 +234 +27 +31 +32 +34 +44 other)
• Company names mentioned in 419 spam:
  1 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
• Support our efforts to stop scams!
  
• How to report 419 spam to us
• What can you do when you receive 419 spam
  
  
• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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.

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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "outstanding contractors" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "your payment is being processed" (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)
  • "hundred thousand 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)
  • "charles 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)
  • "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.
  
• 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.
  • gmbonusam1960@yahoo.com.hk

Fraud email example:

From: =?big5?q?sam=20mbonu?= <mbonusam1960@yahoo.com.hk>
Reply-To: sam_mbonu2006@yahoo.fr
Date: Mon, 5 Jun 2006 15:33:40 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: business


§Ú¦³·sªº¹q¶l¦a§}¡I§A²{¥i¹q¶lµ¹§Ú¡Gmbonusam1960@yahoo.com.hk

OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR,

CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA,

TINUMBU SQUARE LAGOS NIGERIA,

EMAIL: mbonusam@walla.com


IMMEDIATE CONTRACT PAYMENT.CONTRACT #: MAD/NNPC/FGN/MIN/006.

My Name is SAM MBONU the personal Adviser to the Governor

CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA Prof.Charles Soludo.Earlier before now, you may

have received this mail/infomation, we are resending it again for final

notification.

>From the records of outstanding contractors due for payment with the

Federal 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$15.7

(fifteen million seven hundred thousand United States dollars).Please

re-confirm

to me if this is inline with what you 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.

As soon as this information are 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 on this e-mail

Address : mbonusam@walla.com

Regards,

SAM MBONU

Personal Adviser to the,

Governor Central Bank Of Nigeria.

- sam mbonu

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam