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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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)
- "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)
- "million 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)
- ",000,000" (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)
- "international remittance department" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
- "charles soludo" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "charles c. soludo" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "executive governor" (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)
- "contract review panel" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "certified bank draft" (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
- 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.
- 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.
- chalesludo@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Tunde Lemo" <lemmefind@googlemail.com>
Date: Mon, 26 May 2008 21:25:16 +0000
Subject: NOTIFICATION
CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA (CBN)
INTERNATIONAL REMITTANCE DEPARTMENT
CORPORATE HEAD QUARTERS
TINUBU SQUARE VICTORIA ISLAND, LAGOS - NIGERIA.
TEL: +234-708 565 2696
Our Ref: CBN/IRD/CBX/FGN-771/07
ATTN: Fund Beneficiary,
IMMEDIATE CONTRACT PAYMENT RELEASE NOTIFICATION
Compliment of day. I am Prof. Charles C. Soludo, The executive Director
(Governor) central Bank of Nigeri (CBN). I have been instructed by the
Federal Ministry of Finance in conjunction with the Senate Committee
on national Debt and the Board of National Contract Review
Panel to legally transfer your over due contract payment, Contract #
MAV/NNPC/FGN/MIN/0019.
Be informed that I am the final signatory to any transfer or remittance
of huge funds moving within banks both on the local and international
levels in line with foreign claim settlement. However, from the records
of outstanding contractors due for payment with the federal government
of Nigeria that your name, email and company was discovered as next on
the list of the outstanding contractors who has not yet received their
payment.
As my legal obligation, I wish to officially notify you that your
payment is being processed and will be released to you as soon as you
respond to this email. Be advised that because of too many contractors due
for payment at this quarter of the year, you will only receive the
sum of Eighteen Million United States Dollars(US$18,000,000) only, so as
to enable us pay other contractors on the list, Be assured that this
transaction is 100% ready for transfer and my promise is that you will
receive your payment without any delay.
To facilitate with the process of this transaction, please
Kindly re-confirm the following information below:
1) Your full name and Address
2) Phone, Fax and Mobile #.
3) Company name and Address.
4) Profession, age and marital Status.
5) Scan copy of your passport or driver's license
Upon the reconfirmation of the above information, your payment will be
released to you in a certified bank draft or by swift wired transfer to
your nominated
bank account directly from Central Bank of Nigeria through our
corresponding bank overseas.
You are therefore advised to reply urgently to Prof.Charles Soludo on his
direct
number +234-708 565 2696 or email: chalesludo@gmail.com as soon as you
receive this email for further discussion.
Regards,
Prof. Charles C. Soludo.
Executive Governor, Central bank of Nigeria (CBN).
Anti-fraud resources: