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:
  • "clearance certificate" (this will cost you money - that's what the scam is about)
  • "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)
  • "to your nominated bank account" (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)
  • "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 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.
  • +23414774149 (Nigeria, landline)
• 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.
  • profc_soludo1@yahoo.com

Fraud email example:

From: CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA <central_20002000@yahoo.com>
Date: Fri, 23 Jun 2006 03:26:51 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Urgent Notification


FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA



CENTRAL BANK OFNIGERIA
TINUBU SQUARE VICTORIA
ISLAND LAGOS NIGERIA





THE DESK OF PROFESSOR. CHARLES C. SOLUDO
GOVERNOR, CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA (CBN).
INTERNATIONAL RIMMITANCE DEPARTMENT.
CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS: # CBN HOUSE, Tinubu square,
Eleke Crescent-Victoria Island Marina,
Victoria Island Lagos Nigeria West Africa.
P.O.Box 55037 Falomo Ikoyi Lagos Island Marina.
Telefax:234-1-4774149
DIRECT EMAIL: profc_soludo1@yahoo.com

ATTN: Mr.VICTIMNAME,

NOTIFICATION FOR IMMEDIATE PAYMENT.

The acknowledgement, of Your Immediate Contract Payment. On behalf of the entire staff of Central Bank of Nigeria, and the Federal Government of Nigeria in collaborated with the Authorities, who are in charge of foreign contract payments. We Apologies, for the delay of your payment, the Inconveniences and Inflict that we might have indulge you through.

However, where having some minor problems with our payment system, which have demoralized us, also have caused a lot of predicament to this organization, which is Inexplicable? And have held us Indolent, not having the perseverance and Aspiration to devote our 100% standard Assiduity in accrediting foreign contract payments. Once again, Our Apologies for all inconveniences.

From the Records of outstanding contractors due for payment with the Federal Government of Nigeria, your name was discovered as next on the list of the outstanding Contractors who have not yet received their payments.

I wish to inform you now that the square peg is now in square hole, and can be voguish for 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 payment approved in your favour is US$9.5Million Dollars(Nine Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars).

Kindly 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) Working I'd/Int'l passport.

As soon as this information is received, your payment will be made to you in a certified Bank wired Transfer to your nominated Bank Account directly from Central Bank of Nigeria.

You are hereby advice to contact the Senate Chairman on his direct phone number 234-803-2756690 for your Attestation Clearance Certificate and Telex Pin Code before we can make any Transfer. You can also reach me with this number 234-802-9941427 for more breifing as soon as you receive this letter regards to your Payment.

Regards,


Professor. Charles c. Soludo
Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).


FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA


---------------------------------
Do you Yahoo!?
Next-gen email? Have it all with the all-new Yahoo! Mail Beta.

---------------------------------
Talk is cheap. Use Yahoo! Messenger to make PC-to-Phone calls. Great rates starting at 1¢/min.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam