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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:

Fraud email example:

From: "Central Bank" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <cenbank@daum.net>
Date: Sat, 19 Feb 2011 13:17:15 -0000
Subject: Urgent Action Needed

Dear CBN Customer,
 
I have contacted you severally without response from you. Did you instruct any body to receive your payment on your behalf??
 
I hereby send to you the account submitted by Mr. John Lenon J-Lenon group Ltd, with an application to receive the contract/Inheritance payment on your behalf. Please as a matter of urgency, you are required to verify the following information and inform us if you are aware or know anything about this.
1. Did you instruct one Mr. John Lenon J-Lenon group Ltd. Texas-USA, whose information's is below, to claim and receive the payment on your behalf?
 
2. Did you sign any "Deed of Assignment" in his favor thereby making him the current beneficiary with the following account details:
 
Account Name: J-Lenon group Ltd,
A/C #USD114-1025567-8,
Bank Name: Chase Bank, USA,
Swift Code: SCBL 11K111.
 
Finally, you are hereby advised to indicate to this honorable office with immediate effect, if you are the person that instructed Mr. John Lenon to come for the claim of these funds US$16.4 million, to enable me endorse for the final payment approval order on his behalf.
 
You are to call with this Phone Number +234-802 494 1989 for more clarifications.
 
We wait to hear from you soonest with the below information:
 
FULL NAME:
ADDRESS:
DATE OF BIRTH AND AGE:
OCCUPATION:
TELEPHONE NUMBER/MOBILE
 
Send me the above information to update my data and be rest assured of our professional
service.
 
YOURS IN SERVICE,
 
REV.SMITH JOHNSON
FINANCIAL SECRETARY CBN
(SPECIAL PAYMENT OFFICE)
 

Anti-fraud resources: