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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:
- 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:
- "central bank of nigeria" (the name of a person or institution often appearing 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.
Fraud email example:
From: "CBN Governor" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <fh1ms@coolvirgo.com>
Date: Tue, 9 Feb 2010 04:14:00 +0100
Subject: Important Info-Your Contract Funds*
Attn. Beneficiary,
I am Mr. Sanusi Lamidu the new Governor of the central bank of Nigeria. During accounting and auditing with external auditor to balance account, I discovered your name as one of the Federal government contractors who have not yet been paid, on further investigation I notice that you have never had any physical contact with the said funds or individuals you have been transacting with towards the release of these funds to you.
As the new governor of this bank, I am doing everything possible to finish the old and unpaid contract funds which the former governor did not perform.
All you need to do is to arrange for a trip to Nigeria or Benin Republic where I will make your funds of US$52.7Million available in cash with one of our offshore paying outlets.
I am not only writing you this mail as the governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, also as a friend.
You need to have a U turn and take a bolder step if you have to receive this payment because you have been going through the wrong direction and that was why you did not receive your funds since. Once again, I am obliged to see to your funds release to your account. My private email is {fh1ms@coolvirgo.com}
Fill In the Form Below
Yours Name........................................................
Your Address......................................................
Your Occupation..................................................
Telephone........................................................
Fax.......................................................................
Attached copy of your ID
call me on +234 70 663 13 707
Yours Faithfully
Sanusi Lamidu Governor CBN
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Anti-fraud resources:
