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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: "LAMIDO SANUSI" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <ls.cbn@sify.com>
Date: Mon, 15 Jun 2009 14:06:31 +0100
Subject: VERY URGENT FROM CBN

 
From the Desk of Lamido Sanusi.
Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria
Telephone: 234-8035728819
REFERENCE CODE NUMBER- (411)
 
Our Ref: WB/NF/UN/XX029
ATTN: BENEFICARY
IRREVOCABLE RELEASE OF YOUR PAYMENT
WE THE OCEANIC BANK PLC WRITE TO INFORM YOU THAT WE HAVE BEEN AUTHORIZED BY THE ECOWAS COMMUNITY IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE WORLD BANK AND THE PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA TO RELEASE YOUR UNNECESSARY DELAY OF YOUR OUTSTANDING INHERITANCE PAYMENT.
WE HAVE ALSO BEEN EMPOWERED TO RECOMMEND AND APPROVE YOUR CLAIMS FOR PAYMENT IF CERTIFIED AS GENUINE. DURING THE COURSE OF OUR INVESTIGATION, WE DISCOVERED WITH DISMAY THAT YOUR PAYMENT HAS BEEN UNNECESSARILY DELAYED BY SOME CORRUPT OFFICIALS OF THE BANK WHO ARE TRYING TO DIVERT THE BENEFICIARIES' FUND INTO THEIR PRIVATE ACCOUNTS.
 
TO PROTECT THE SECURITY ON YOUR FUNDS AND FOR THE SAFETY OF YOUR FUNDS, WE HAVE BEEN SPECIFICALLY ADVISED TO RELEASE THIS PAYMENT TO YOU BY AN AUTOMATED TELLER MACHINE (ATM CARD), BY A CERTIFIED BANK DRAFT OR THROUGH SPECIAL CASH DELIVERY.
 
WE ARE HAPPY TO INFORM YOU THAT BASED ON OUR RECOMMENDATION ON YOUR OUTSTANDING LONG DELAYED FUND, WHICH HAS BEEN CREDITED IN YOUR FAVOR IN OUR ACCREDITED BANK'S ESCROW ACCOUNT.
 
AS SOON AS WE RECEIVE AN EMAIL FROM YOU, WE SHALL NOT HESITATE TO PROCEED ON THE RELEASE OF YOUR FUNDS BY THIS BANK, WE WILL THEREFORE, IMPLORE YOU TO EXPEDITE ACTION IN YOUR RESPOND TODAY BY INDICATING YOUR PREFERRED MODE OF PAYMENT.
 
WE EXPECT YOUR URGENT RESPONSE TO THIS EMAIL: l.sanusi@sify.com OR CALL ON 234-8035728819.
 
CONGRATULATIONS!
 
Lamido Sanusi
Governor,Central Bank of Nigeria

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