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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:
- "into your nominated bank account" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "fund beneficiary" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "central bank of nigeria" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "nigeria national petroleum corporation" (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.
Fraud email example:
From: Citibank <citibank_group@yahoo.cn>
Reply-To: citibankgroup@yahoo.cn
Date: Tue, 09 Oct 2012 08:14:04 -0700
Subject: Congratulations in advance..as we wait your immediate reply.
Dear fund beneficiary.
Sequel to your over due contract/inheritance payment.Citibank London Region has received an urgent directives from Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation NNPC/Central Bank Of Nigeria CBN to release your over due contract/inheritance payment into your nominated bank account and debit Nigeria Government Reserve Oil account with us.At this juncture fill attached Citigroup Mandate Form attached to this message and return the filled form back through your email attachment file for due process legality clearance/notarization at the British municipal council by our legal department on your behalf to enable our remittance dept credit your fund into your nominated bank account accordingly and furnish you with your payment slip confirmation/MOT 103 so you can start making withdrawal from your bank account within 24 hour of remittance.Fill Citibank transfer mandate Form attached to this email with Capital Letters as mandated to avoid any mistake,because No staff of Citibank will be held res
Congratulations in advance..as we wait your immediate reply.
YOURS TRULY,
GARY CRITTENDEN
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER/FOREIGN REMITTANCE UNIT.
CITIGROUP INC.UK
TELEPHONE+44-743-0102-822
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Anti-fraud resources:
