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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:

Fraud email example:

From: Claudia McVeigh <xmms5@live.co.za>
Date: Fri, 19 Sep 2008 17:44:13 -0400
Subject: ATTENTION: Honorable Beneficiary

 

ECOBANK NIGERIA PLC
FOREIGN OPERATIONS DEPARTMENT
#2 AJOSE ADEOGUN STREET,
VICTORIA ISLAND LAGOS-NIGERIA
Our Ref: EBN-0XX2/987/2008
Email: eco_remitt_center@live.com
DIRECT LINE: +234-8050540007, +234-1-4181952.


DATE: 19/09/2008.

 

ATTENTION: Honorable Beneficiary,


RE: PAYMENT ON PRINCINPAL AND ACCRUED INTEREST OF US$20M


I am the EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR and Head of Swift Transfer Ecobank of Nigeria plc. Lagos-Nigeria, Sometime ago, in our bank your contract money wasbrought to ourbank from Nigerian Apex Bank, CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA (C.B.N) For the period of time this money was in our bank, it generated an interest of US$ 20 Million,which we are about to pay to you via Special Bank Instrument directly to your account on the instruction from the presidency. As the Apex Bank is no longer
in charge of your payment this is due to numerous petitions against the
officials of Central Bank of Nigeria.


For your information and advice, you need to hasten up to pick this Fund because from time to time the C.B.N auditors do come to our bank to cross-check our files and our financial update, the earlier you comply with the demands of the delivery of the fund, the faster the action, because the CBN officials wants the accrued interest to be paid to them but we refused, so when they find out that this interest fund is still in our bank they will want to call back the money to the Federal Government treasury.


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.
5) Copy of int'l passport or drivers license


As soon as these informations are received, your payment will be wired to you through bank wire transfer. 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.


As a matter of fact we dont have enough time to waste since we have
wasted time in contacting our respective customers, so try and comply with the entire necessary requirement for remittance.


Expecting your immediately response.
Email: eco_remitt_center@live.com

 

Yours Sincerely,

DR. GORDON SMITH
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR and Head of Swift Transfer Ecobank of Nigeria plc.
Lagos-Nigeria


NB: PLEASE DO NOT CLICK REPLY,SIMPLY CONTACT DR. GORDON SMITH ON HIS CONTACT EMAIL: eco_remitt_center@live.com  OR CALL DIRECTLY.+234 8050540007.

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