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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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)
- "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.
- 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.
- accessbankplcc@rocketmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Dr Micheal Elo." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <paymentoffice2011@one.co.il>
Date: Wed, 24 Aug 2011 16:03:55 -0700
Subject: YOUR IMMEDIATE CONTRACT PAYMENT . CONTRACT#:MAV/NNPC/FGN/MIN/007.
CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA TINUBU SQUARE,VICTORIA ISLAND,
LAGOS-NIGERIA
FROM THE DESK OF THE VERIFICATION AD-HOC COMMITTEE
CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA(CBN)
OBY EZEKWESILI
ATTN:, Stefan Schulz,
YOUR IMMEDIATE CONTRACT PAYMENT
CONTRACT#:MAV/NNPC/FGN/MIN/007.
Central Bank of Nigeria (C.B.N). The management of this Bank hereby
apologise for the delay of your contract sum,this is as a result of
the fireout break which erupted in our major branch(Ibadan).We lost
all the informations of our international contractors whose files were
taken to this branch for final endorsement before the payment.
However the seven man committee set up by the management of the bank
were able to find your name and email address as a beneficiary whose
contract sum was amongst those ready for payment but got burnt in the
disaster.Your contract sum is $35 million U.S Dollars.please confirm
if this amount is correct and let us know your real amount owned you.
I hereby urge you to apply for this sum by sending your
1.Full name/Address
2.Phone /Fax Number
3.Age/Profession
4.Copy of your Identification: Intl Passport or Drivers license
5.Account Informations
To the Authorized paying Bank Access Bank Plc Send the above
details:To The Director of Treasury Department Dr Brain Coker by
Email: accessbankplcc@rocketmail.com
This will enable him prepare another file that will enhance the urgent
release of your funds.
Regards
Dr Micheal Elo
Chairperson Verification Ad-Hoc Committee.
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Anti-fraud resources:
