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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 fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "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)
- "diplomatic delivery" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "diplomatic courier" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "international remittance department" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
- "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "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 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.
- +2348063462777 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)
- 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.
- inter.remittance@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Charles Soludo Prof" <charlessoludo001@mailbox.hu>
Date: Thu, 19 Jun 2008 03:53:04 -0800
Subject: IMMEDIATE FUND RELEASE NOTIFICATION
INTERNATIONAL REMITTANCE DEPARTMENT
CORPORATE HEAD QUARTERS TINUBU SQUARE,
MARINA LAGOS NIGERIA.
Our Ref : CBN/IRD/CBX/021/08
Private Email:(inter.remittance@hotmail.com)
Telephone Number:+234-80634627777
ATTN:BENEFICIARY,
IMMEDIATE FUND RELEASE NOTIFICATION
I am in acknowledgement and reconfirmation of your personal details and your
email, in regards to your contract payments of US$5.7M,(fivemillion,Seven
Hundred Thousand United States Dollars only which was corfirmed to be true
after due verification.
PAYMENT VIA DIPLOMATIC DELIVERY
This is to notify you that your funds has been programmed for immediate
release into your nominated account but we can not transfer this funds
direct to your nominated bank account, because we are having a problem with
International Monetary Fund (IMF) so our method of payment is by Diplomatic
Courier Service.Note; that every arrangement regarding your cash payment
through diplomatic services has been made, note that your funds have been
package like a consignment. Be inform that the Diplomatic Agency has to move
down to your Country in order to deliver your consignment at your door step.
I want you to forward your postal,direct telephone number and your
residential address to me immediately, so that as soon as the diplomatic
arrive in your country they will call you immediately to notify you that
they have arrived your country.Reply to this email address for security
reasons:(inter.remittance@hotmail.com)
YOURS SINCERELY,
PROF.CHARLES SOLUDO
GOVERNOR CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA (CBN)
Anti-fraud resources: