joewein.net   joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days
  jwSpamSpy

Home
About Us
Spam
419/Nigeria
Fraud
Contact

"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: "Paul Jones" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <cscb.nig2@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 7 Apr 2011 06:19:39 -0700
Subject: FROM : PAUL JONES

 
Office of the Governor.
Central bank of Nigeria
Tinubu, square, Lagos- Nigeria.
Date 7th April  2011.
Our ref: Cbn/Ohg/Oxd1/2011
Your ref: ..............................
Telex: Cenbank.
 
Payment file: Cbn/Ben/2011.
 
Attn: Beneficiary,
 
Payment notification of your funds.
 
I am Mr. Paul Jones, the secretary to Dr. Lamido Sanusi; the executive governor of the central bank of Nigeria (C.B.N), the central bank of Nigeria is the parent bank of all commercial banks here in Nigeria. I was instructed to initiate contact with you by my boss the executive governor of the central bank of Nigeria (C.B.N) on an urgent issue, kindly note that your funds were re-called and re-deposited into the "federal suspense account" of the cbn last week, because you did not forward your claim as the right beneficiary.
 
My boss the executive governor of the central bank of Nigeria (C.B.N), was visited in his office by three gentlemen today, really these men were unexpected by him because their visit was impromptu. He had to ask them why they came to see him in person and they said that they came to collect the inheritance/ contract funds bill sum of us$20 million which rightfully belongs to you as shown in your file with us, on your behalf and by your authorization. Note that they actually tendered some vital documents which proved that you actually sent them for the collection of these funds. Below is list of the documents which they tendered to this bank today:
 
1. Letter of administration.
2. High court injunction.
3. Order to release.
 
Due to the nature of his job, he cannot afford to make any mistake in releasing these funds to anyone except you who is the recognized true beneficiary to these funds. Note that my boss has asked these men to come back tomorrow so he can verify this fact from you first. Kindly clarify us on this issue before we make this payment to these foreigners whom came on your behalf.  Kindly to direct your response to the private email address of my boss, Dr. Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, the executive governor of the central bank of nigeria cbn,below for quicker deliberation and response from him on the release of your funds to you. Please remember to indicate a phone number he can reach you on in your response.
 
Email: cscb-nig1@hotmail.com
 
Note that for security reasons you have been assigned a code/password which is {TT7270CBN}, please note that this code is the reference number for your transfer and it?s being disclosed to you alone, guard this jealously and all your email response should carry this code as the subject.
Yours faithfully,
 
Mr. Paul Jones.
Secretary.
To the Governor.
Central bank of Nigeria
Tinubu square, Lagos- Nigeria.
 
Statement of confidentiality: "the information in this email and in any attachments may contain confidential information and is intended solely for the attention and use of the named addressee(s). It may not be disclosed to any person without authorization. If you are not the intended recipient, or a person responsible for delivering it to the intended recipient you are not authorized to and must not disclose, copy, distribute or retain this message or any part of it."
 

Anti-fraud resources: