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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.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "Sani Ibrahim" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mailme.sani@yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 20 Feb 2012 12:44:32 -0000
Subject: TRUST ME IF YOU WISH TO.

URGENT DEAR, 
 
MY NAME IS MR SANI IBRAHIM OF TELEX/COMPUTER DEPARTMENT OF CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA. I AM SENDING THIS PRIVATE EMAIL BASED ON THE CONFIDENTIALITY OF  THE TRANSACTION. PLEASE I WILL LIKE TO ADVISE IF AFTER GOING THROUGH MY PROPOSAL AND YOU DO NOT ACCEPT IT , KINDLY KEEP IT TO YOUR SELF, AS OF THIS MOMENT I AM STILL IN SERVICE WITH  CENTRAL  BANK  OF NIGERIA (CBN) AND I WILL NOT BY ANY MEANS LIKE TO LOSE MY JOB , IF YOU ARE NOT INTERESTED.
 
I HAVE PUT IN OVER 23 YEARS IN THIS BANK BUT I DID NOT HAVE  ANYTHING  TO SHOW FOR IT. THIS IS JUST MY OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE SURE THAT I GIVE MY CHILDREN A DECENT TRAINING SINCE MY GOVERNMENT WHICH IS CORRUPT HAS REFUSED TO TAKE CARE OF ITS RESPONSIBILITY. IN FACT I AM SICK AND TIRED OF EVERYTHING HERE I NEED TO GET OUT, I FOUND OUT THAT YOU ALMOST MET ALL THE STATUTORY  REQUIREMENTS IN RESPECT OF YOUR  PAYMENT.  PLEASE BE EQUALLY ADVISED THAT NO SECURITY COMPANY IN AFRICA CAN HANDLE YOUR PAYMENT / INHERITANCE FUND WITH ANY BANK WITHOUT THE INSTRUCTIONS OF  THE CENTRAL BANK  OF  NIGERIA
 
YOUR PROBLEM IS THAT OF INTEREST GROUP IN THE CENTRAL BANK  OF  NIGERIA, THAT IS SUPPOSED TO  TRANSFER  YOUR  FUND WITH  THE APPROVAL OF CENTRAL BANK. A LOT OF PEOPLE IS  INTERESTED IN  YOUR  PAYMENT AND THAT EXPLAINS WHY YOU RECEIVE EMAILS AND  PHONE  CALLS FROM  DIFFERENT PEOPLE EVERYDAY. THEIR  WHOLE GAME PLAN IS TO FRUSTRATE YOU IN ORDER FOR YOU  TO  ABANDON THE CONTRACT PAYMENT AND THEN, THEY  WILL  BE COMFORTABLE  AND  FREE ENOUGH TO  TRANSFER THE  CONTRACT FUNDS IN TO THEIR  OVER SEAS ACCOUNTS.
 
THEIR AIM AND TARGET IS NOT  THE  MONEY  YOU  ARE  GIVEN  THEM  BUT  TO  FRUSTRATE YOU. HENCE YOU HAVE  LOST TRUST ON  WHOM TO BELIEVE TO BE GENUINE. I  CAN  ASSURE YOU  THAT  THIS  MAY LAST FOR YEARS, YET NOTING HAPPEN,TO SUM IT UP ,  I  WISH TO ASSURE YOU  THAT  WITH  MY  POSITION  HERE  IN  THE  TELEX DEPARTMENT,  I  CAN  ACCOMPLISH  THIS  UNDER  FIVE WORKING DAYS.  BUT WE  HAVE  REACH AN AGREEMENT, FIRST OF ALL YOU HAVE TO  LET ME KNOW HOW MUCH YOU WILL GIVE ME AT THE  CONSUMMATION OF THIS DEAL.
 
REGARDS DULY
SANI IBRAHIM
TELEX/COMPUTER DEPARTMENT
CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA

Anti-fraud resources: