|
|
joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
|
|
"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.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "western union" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "money gram" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "my direct line" (a "direct line" in a scam usually means an untraceable mobile phone number used by a scammer in an internet cafe, a redirection service number that forwards to a mobile or a free voicemailbox in a different country.)
- "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)
- "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.
- Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
- 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.
- lamidosanusi397@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
- central bank of nigeria (cbn) +234 1 8936972 email: lamidosanusi397@gmail.com email:centralbankofnigeria@inmail24.com attn; beneficiary (Gmail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: sanusilamido@site.kz
Date: Mon, 31 Jan 2011 17:20:55 +0600 (ALMT)
Subject: YOUR PAYMENT IS READY
CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA
Executive Governor
Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)
+234 1 8936972
Email: lamidosanusi397@gmail.com
Email:centralbankofnigeria@inMail24.com
Attn; Beneficiary
We apologize to you over the delay to transfer your contract fund part
payment valued $15 million today being 31 Jauary,2011 into your nominated
receiving bank account
Meanwhile the transfer arrangements on your Contract/ Inheritance valued
FUND was perfected after agreement with the Minister of Finance DR.
OLUSEGUN OLUWATOYIN AGANGA presented the new bank account normalization
letter from Minister of Justice. I will immediately forward the telex
report of the transfer to you on Tuesday this week then the fund will
reflect on your account immediately without any waste of time as you will
also confirm this in your real bank account.
The transfer would be done on or before Tuesday this week, so we are
advising you to Send the Sum of $285 being the CREDITING FEES FOR THE
TRANSFER of your contract fund. Send the $285 to enable us perfect the
transfer listed Name below through western union money transfer or via
money gramm:
Receiver's Name; JAMES UCHE NWAOGU.
Address: Lagos-Nigeria
Question : What For??
Answer: GOOD.
Amount $285
I will call your bank as soon as I hear from you before making the transfer.
In receipt of this Official Letter, you are advised to furnish this Bank
with your Bank informations in regards to where this Funds will be
Transferred into.
1. Bank Name
2. Bank Address
3. Account Unmber
4. Routing Number
5 Your Direct Phone Number..................
6 Your Full Name
7 Your Resident Address
8 Your International Pasport........................ ..
We hope you could bear with us for any problem you might have been having
all this while as I urge you to call me on my direct line +234 1 8936972
for more briefings.
Thanks
DR LAMIDO SANUSI
(C.B.N.GOVERNOR)
Email:centralbankofnigeria@inMail24.com
|
Anti-fraud resources:
