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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:
- "hundred thousand united states dollars" (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)
- "executive governor" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "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.
Fraud email example:
From: "L.S" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <drsanusilamidocbn01@i12.com>
Date: Wed, 28 Jul 2010 09:01:40 -0700
Subject: GOOD NEWS
Attention:
Kindly get back to me immediately.I am the executive governor CBN,Dr Sanusi Lamido.On assumption of office last year,I discovered that you are being owed the sum of TEN MILLION,SEVEN HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS as unpaid contract/inherittance/lottery fund in Contractors Category [A] Record file.
Kindly re-confirm your information including your phone number for verification and immediate payment within 24 hours.
Your Full Name: ______________
Your Complete Address__________________________
Name of City of Residence:____________________
Country:______________________________________
Direct Telephone Number:______________________
Mobile Number:________________________________
AGE :_________________________________________
Fax Number:___________________________________
Occupation: ________________________________
Copy of your identification
You are required to choose one of the three mode of payments below:WIRE TRANSFER,DIPLOMATIC CASH PAYMENT,ATM CARD PAYMENT
Get back to me asap.
Yours in Service,
Dr Sanusi Lamido
Executive Governor
CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA.
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Anti-fraud resources:
