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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:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "western union" (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. )
- "barr." (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "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.
- Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
- 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.
- email.stevesoludo@aol.com (AOL; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "Barr.Steve Soludo Jr." (may be fake)
Date: Wed, 16 May 2012 09:55:12 +0100
Subject: Your payment
Barr. Steve Soludo Jr.
Foreign reserve escrow Accounts officer
Federal Reserve bank
New York.
Direct.Tel +1 940 603 8955
Email.stevesoludo@aol.com
Sir,
Wire instruction in your favour.
This is to inform you that we have received a wire instruction from Mellon Bank which originated from the Central bank of Nigeria. We are advised to vet the wire instruction and proceed with the payment. All effort to reach you via telephone failed hence we resorted to using email.
In view of this development ,you are hereby requested to furnish us with the following items to confirm and execute this wire.
1. Reconfirm your Banking details.
2.Your Bank routing numbers
3.Your Bank tel/fax numbers
4.Your account officers information.(Name,Tel No and email address)
Finally,the wire instruction request that you make a payment of $178US to Central Bank of Nigeria to transmit to us your Currency Transaction Report(CTL) as a prerequisite for this wire to go through which is a standard request from the Homeland security,IRS and FBI.
Send this amount via western union money transfer($178) to Mr.Kevin Uzor.Lagos Nigeria and send a copy of the receipt to me with the requested information on your bank.On you compliance to this directives,be assured that the funds will be in your bank account within the next 42 to 72 hours bank working .
NB.Send the same western union receipt to Central bank via fax.234 1 710 0735
Please note that this instruction is valid for a period of 5bank working days and will be cancelled if not executed.
Best Regards
Barr.Steve Soludo Jr.
Foreign reserve Escrow Account officer
Federal Reserve Bank
New York.
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