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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:

Fraud email example:

From: "Central Bank of Nigeria." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <centralbanofnigeria@hotmail.com>
Date: Wed, 4 Apr 2012 09:28:13 -0700
Subject: GOOD NEWS TO YOU.

CORPORATE HEAD OFFICE
CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT
P.M.B. 0187,
GARKI, ABUJA-F.C.T., NIGERIA.
 
 
REF- INSTRUCTION TO CREDIT YOUR ACCOUNT WITH THE SUM OF (US$1.5,Million)
 
 
RE: BANK DRAFT PAYMENT OF US$1,500,000.00
 
 
Attn:  
 
 
This is to bring to your notice that we are delegated from the WORLD BANK in Central Bank to pay 55 victims of scam, US$1,500,000.00 (One Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars only each). You are listed and approved for this payment as one of the scammed victims to be paid this amount, get back to this office as soon as possible for the immediate payment of your US$1,500,000.00 compensation funds.
On this faithful recommendation, we want you to know that during the last meeting held at Abuja, Nigeria. It was alarming on the money lost by various individuals to the scam artist operating in syndicates all over the world today. In other to compensate victims, the WORLD BANK body is now asking our Bank to pay 55 scammed victims US$1,500,000.00 each in accordance with the WORLD BANK recommendations. Based on the above, a Bank Draft of US$1,500,000.00 has been issued in your name.
Benefactors of this compensation award will have to be first cleared and recommended for payment by Central Bank. According to the number of applicants at hand, 441 beneficiaries has been paid, over a half of the scammed victims are from the United states, we still have an outstanding of 310 scammed victims left to be paid. Other victims who have not been contacted can submit their application as well for scrutiny and possible consideration.
 
 
We shall pay your fund to you in any method you want to receive your Fund, as soon as we get response from you to receive your compensation payment.
But before you have to reconfirm the below information's to avoid wrong payment
(1) Name:
(2) Address:
(3) Phone number:
{4}Your age:
{5}Your occupation:
(6) Copy or number of your Identification:
(7}International Passport or Drivers License:
 
 
Your response is needed immediately.
 
 
OFFICIALLY SIGNED.
 
 
Dr. Sanusi Lamido.
Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria.
DIRECTOR, TELEGRAPHIC TRANSFER DEPT,

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