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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.
- This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
- 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)
- "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 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.
- frbonlinebanking@sify.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs Lucy Robertson" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <frbonlinebanking@sify.com>
Date: Sat, 24 Oct 2009 23:37:43 +0200
Subject: Federal Reserve Bank of New York
>From The Office of the Governor
Central Bank Of Nigeria.
Corporate Head Quarters Tinubu Square,
Marina Lagos Nigeria
Attn: Beneficiary.
PAYMENT OF US$12.5MILLION APPROVED FOR PAYMENT
It is necessary that I inform you that your fund that is presently assigned to be release to you through Federal Reserve Bank of New York. As it is now the Central Bank of Nigeria account officer in charge of conducting payments from the Nigeria government foreign reserve account with the Federal Reserve Bank is now with your payment. you are now advice to contact the central bank of Nigeria account payment supervisor in charge of your payment. with the below information ;
Telephone: +1-315 403 6146
Email: frbonlinebanking@sify.com
Contact Person: Mrs Susan Butler
Please reconfirmation your information once again.
1. Your Full names
2. You’re complete Postal Address.
3. Your Telephone number
4. Your fax number
5. You’re Occupation.
6. Age/Sex
7. Marital Status.
Ensure to send the requirements by E-mail or call Mrs. susan Butler So you can discuss with her the exact payment amount which you are supposed to received.However the sum of ($12.5 million USD) has been approved for payment to your nominated bank account.
While I wait for your response thanks for your kind understanding.
Please keep me update.
Regards
Mrs Lucy Robertson
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