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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.
Fraud email example:
From: "Faruku" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <666123@iPal.com>
Date: Wed, 16 Mar 2011 02:37:45 -0700
Subject: Information
Attn: Sir/Madam
THIS IS TO INFORM YOU THAT THE CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA HAS GIVEN US ORDER TO
PAY TO YOU YOUR LONG OVER DUE FUND VIA ATM CARD.HENCE FORTH YOU SHOULD STOP ANY OTHER
COMMUNICATION YOU HAVE WITH ANY PERSON OR GROUP OF PERSONS AS REGARDS TO YOUR FUND
PAYMENT AS WE ARE NOW THE OFFICE IN CHARGE.
This arrangement was initiated/constituted by the World Bank and Paris
Club, due to fraudulent activities going on within the African Region.
The World Bank and Paris Club introduced this payment arrangement as to
enable our contractors/inheritance fund beneficiaries to receive their fund
without any further hitch or interference. the ATM Master Express Credit
Card was contracted and powered by GOLD CARD WORLD WIDE.
Reconfirm the following information to us for Security reason.
1)YOUR FULL NAME:
2)YOUR RECEIVING ADDRESS:
3)YOUR TELEPHONE NUMBER:
4)YOUR PROFESSION:
Upon the receipt of your reply we are going to load your fund USD$8.3M
USD into the Master Express Credit Card and send a scan copy of the card
to you before we will proceed to dispatch the card directly to your
nominated home address so you absolutely have nothing to worry about, all
we need is your Prompt Response and Co-operation by Gods Grace we will
have a successfully Transaction.
CONGRATULATIONS IN ADVANCE.
BEST REGARDS,
Mr.M. A Faruku
International Remittance Director
Spring Bank Nig.Plc.
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Anti-fraud resources:
