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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:
- 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)
- "million 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)
- "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)
- "you are advise to" (this email uses bad English)
- "international remittance department" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
- "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)
- "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.
- +2348033944318 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)
Fraud email example:
From: "Prof Charles Soludo" <officeemail654@googlemail.com>
Reply-To: charles_solu111@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Fri, 5 Sep 2008 00:00:02 +0100
Subject: Last payment Notice
CONTRACT PAYMENT NOTIFICATION
INTERNATIONAL REMITTANCE DEPARTMENT,
CORPORATE HEAD QUARTERS
TINUBU SQUARE,LAGOS NIGERIA,
TEL: 234-8033944318
Our Ref: CBN/IRD/CBX/021/07,
CONTRACT #:MAV/NNPC/FGN/MIN/009.
Attn: Honourable Contractor,
We apologize, for the delay of your payment and all the inconveniences and
inflict that we might have indulged you through. 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$15.7million
dollars (Fifteen Million seven hundred thousand united states
dollars).Please re-confirm to meif 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 is received, your payment will be made to you in
a certified bank draft directly from Central Bank of Nigeria.
You are advise to respond immediately as soon as you receive this letter for
further discussion.
Note: Make sure you call me as soon as you receive this message.
Have a Blessed Day.
Best Regards
PROFESSOR CHARLES C. SOLUDO,
EXECUTIVE GOVERNOR,
OF CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA (CBN)
TEL: 234-8033944318
Anti-fraud resources:
