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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:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "you are advise to" (this email uses bad English)
- "dear beneficiary," (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
- "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.
- This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
Fraud email example:
From: "FROM: DR. SANUSI LAMIDO SANUSI" <slamido24@gmail.com>
Reply-To: <drsanusilamidosanusi2011@hotmail.com>
Date: Fri, 29 Apr 2011 18:52:25 +0100
Subject: YOUR PAYMENT HAS BEEN APPROVED AND YOUR FUNDS ARE READY TO BE TRASFERRED TO ACCOUNT OF YOUR CHOICE
>From The Desk Of:
Dr Sanusi Lamido Sanusi
Executive Governor,
CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA (CBN).
Direct Line +234-704-307-2006
Office line. +234-01218-9789
RE: IMMEDIATE CONTRACT/BENEFICIARY PAYMENT: AV/NNPC/FGN/MIN/2011
DEAR BENEFICIARY,
ON BEHALF OF THE ENTIRE STAFF OF CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA AND FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT IN COLLABORATION WITH INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND WITH
WORLD BANK. WE WISH TO APOLOGIZE FOR THE DELAY OF YOUR
WINNING/CONTRACT PAYMENT AND WE APOLOGIZE FOR ANYTHING WRONG YOU
HAVE ENCOUNTERED WHILE PURSUING THIS PAYMENT. WE WISH TO ASSURE YOU
THAT EVERYTHING HAS BEEN SETTLED.
HOWEVER, ALL YOU NEED TO DO NOW IS TO FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS AND
DIRECTIVES. I BET YOU WILL GET YOUR FUNDS WITHOUT ANY FURTHER DELAY
OR HITCHES.
YOUR PAYMENT HAS BEEN APPROVED AND READY TO BE TRASFERRED TO ANY
CHOICE OF YOUR ACCOUNT. YOU ARE ADVISE TO GET BACK TO US WITH BELOW
INFORMATION TO ENABLE US TO RECONFIRM AND START YOUR PAYMENT PROCESS
IMMEDIATELY.
1. YOUR FULL NAME:
2. ADDRESS:
3.AGE
4 OCCUPATION:
5. DIRECT PHONE NUMBERS AND FAX:
I URGE YOU TO SEND ABOVE INFORMATION TO ENABLE US EFFECT YOUR
PAYMENT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. WE SHALL WAIT TO HEAR FROM YOU AS SOON
AS POSSIBLE.
YOURS SINCERELY,
DR SANUSI LAMIDO SANUSI (CURRENT)
GOVERNOR, CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA (CBN).
Direct Line +234-704-307-2006
Office line. +234-01218-9789
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Anti-fraud resources:
