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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:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "you are advise to" (this email uses bad English)
- "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 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.
- alhsanusilamidocbn60@yahoo.com.hk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA <governorsoffice@cbn.org>
Reply-To: alhsanusilamidocbn60@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Mon, 12 Apr 2010 21:39:51 +0700
Subject: REPLY
FROM THE DESK OF THE GOVERNOR
CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA
DATE: 12/04/2010
DEAR BENEFICIARY
RE: UNPAID APPROVED PAYMENT
WE ARE MAKING THIS CONTACT BASED ON THE DIRECTIVE OF THE FEDERAL
MINISTRY OF FINANCE TO OPEN CONTACT WITH YOU ON THE OUTSTANDING
PAYMENT APPROVED ISSUED IN YOUR NAME BUT SURPRISELY THE REMITTANCE WAS
NOT CARRIED OUT AS WAS ORIGINAL SCHEDULE BY THE MANAGEMENT OF THE
CENTRAL BANK DUE TO SOME DISCREPARSES IN THE APPROVAL ORDER ISSUED TO
YOU.
IT IS INDEED OF NOTE THAT YOU MAY HAVE BEEN FRUSTRATED WITH THE
ATTITUDE OF PAST MANAGEMENT OF THE BANK OR OTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCIES
WHO MAY HAVE BEEN MANDATED TO CONCLUDE YOUR PAYMENT BEFORE NOW BUT
FAIL TO DO SO. YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO FULFILL THE LONG AWAITED
DREAM AS WE HAVE SET UP PLANS TO MAKE SURE YOU FINALLY RECIEVE YOUR
FUND.
THE BANK IS AWARE THAT SOME OF YOU CONTRACTORS ARE RELYING ON THE
ADVICES OF ATTORNEY OR REPRESENTATIVES TO BE DEALING WITH THE BANK
THEREBY ACCUSSING THE BANK OF NOT FULFILLING THEIR OBLIGATION TO YOU.
FOR THIS, YOU ARE ADVISE TO DEALING DIRECTLY WITH US TO ENABLE YOU
FINALLY RECEIVE YOUR FUND.
REQUIREMENTS: YOU ARE ADVISE TO PROVIDE YOUR PROOF OF OWNERSHIP OF THE
FUND WHETHER INHERITTANCE OR CONTRACT PAYMENT TO ENABLE US RECONCILE
WITH OUR RECORD. WE SHALL WORK WITH OUR CORRESPONDENT BANK IN EUROPE
TO PROVIDE YOU THROUGH YOUR BANK ALL NECESSARY CONFIRMATION OF THE
PAYMENT AFTER WHICH YOU SHALL BE NOTIFIED OF YOUR OBLIGATION TO
FINALLY HAVE THE FUND DEPOSITED IN YOUR ACCOUNT.
YOU ARE LUCKY TO BE INCLUDED BY THE GOVERNMENT AMONG THOSE TO BE PAID
AT THIS POINT IN TIME. THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TO FINALLY
RECEIVE THE LONG AWAITED TRANSFER. IT IS NOT THE ISSUE OF CERTIFICATE
OR DOCUMENTS BUT WORKING WITH YOUR BANK TO CONFIRM THAT YOU HAVE THE
FUND TO RECEIVE. FORWARD YOUR PARTICULARS TO
alhsanusilamidocbn60@yahoo.com.hk
THANKS FOR YOUR ANTICIAPTED CO-OPERATION.
YOURS FAITHFULLY,
ALHAJI SANUSI LAMIDO SANUSI
GOVERNOR
CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA
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Anti-fraud resources:
