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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 fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
- "first national bank" (not involved with lotteries)
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "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.
Fraud email example:
From: COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN PAYMENT <cfcp2012@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: cfcp2013@yahoo.com
Date: Tue, 21 May 2013 04:26:31 +0200
Subject: INFORMATIONS RECEIVED
CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA.
COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN PAYMENT
(RESOLUTIONPANEL ON CONTRACT PAYMENT)
IKOYI-LAGOS NIGERIA
Attn:Beneficiary.
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN.
This Is To Inform You That We Received An Order From Above That All
The foreign Contractors
That Excute Contract From Offices In Federal Republic Of Nigeria
Should Be Paid Their Part Payment Of Their Funds With CBN Certisfied
Bank Draft Or Cheque.
We Write To Confirm From You If You Are The One Who Requested That
Your Fund Of The Contract You Excuted With Federal Government Of
Nigeria Should Be Transfer To Mrs Nomvuyo N. Matai Bank Account A
South African Citizen, The Bank Account Informations Received From
Mrs Nomvuyo N. Matai Is As Below:
BANKING DETAILS:
Name of bank: First National Bank SA
Address of bank: No.165 Donkin Street, Beaufort West, 6970, WC, South Africa
Branch code: 200108
Swift code: FIRN ZAJJ
Account number: 0074 298 725 944
Account name: SISKELELWE WOMEN'S GROUP
Authorised person: Nomvuyo N. Matai
Looking Forward To Hear From You Soonest As Regards To Your Payment To
The Above Names And Bank Account As Received.
Thanks.
Yours Faithfully.
Mrs.Edna Okolie.Sec To Chairman.
SEN.DAVID MARK SENATE PRESIDENT
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Anti-fraud resources:
