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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:
- "clearance fee" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "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)
- "mrlamido333@skymail.mn" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- 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.
- 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.
- johnkhao@hotmail.com (Hotmail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "MR.SANUSI LAMIDO" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mrlamido222@skymail.mn>
Date: Fri, 2 Mar 2012 02:28:44 -0800
Subject: FROM MR.SANUSI LAMIDO EXECUTIVE GOVERNOR CBN,ARE A LIVE OR DEAD REPLY ASAP.
Dear Beneficiary.
This is from the Governor office of Central Bank of Nigeria.
We received an email from one MR. John Khaolai from the state of Hawaii,
USA claiming that you are dead and he's your next of kin and he want to
claim every outstanding funds that belongs to you. He has also sent us his
account details where your funds will be transferred to henceforth, He has
agreed to send the transfer and clearance fee of $950 tomorrow but we need
to contact you officially before we proceed to know if truly you are dead.
The fund to be transferred to MR. John Khaolai is $10.5m and his email
address is johnkhao@hotmail.com
His account details are as stated below:
Account Name: John Khaolai
Bank Name: First Hawaiian Bank
Account Number: 1017764328
Swift Code: FHB K US 77
Routing Number: 121301015
Bank Address: P. O. Box 2400 Honolulu, HI 96804-2400
Country: USA
If you are alive get back to us within 24 hours. If you do not respond
within 24 hours the fund will be transferred to your next of kin Mr. John
Khaolai.
Reply to: mrlamido333@skymail.mn
Call me as soon as you receive this email, Direct line.+2348080754902
Yours faithfully,
MR.SANUSI LAMIDO
EXECUTIVE GOVERNOR
CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA (CBN)
Direct line.+2348080754902
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Anti-fraud resources:
