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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: "Sanusi Lamido" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <jfl766@yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, 3 Dec 2013 20:40:51 -0000
Subject: Your Unclaimed Funds

ATTN : HONORABLE BENEFICIARY
 
Our records of outstanding contractors due for payment, with the federal government of Nigeria, Your name was discovered as next on the Dr. Lamido Sanusi, The executive governor central Bank Of Nigeria(CBN)
 
Firstly, I plead on behalf of my country and the Central Bank of Nigeria for not contacting you all this while as regards your contract payment, which I know by now, must have cost you some inconveniences, I am promising you on behalf of the central bank of Nigeria that this will not repeat itself any more.
 
I want you to know that your payment is valid and maintained with us here. I have ensured that you receive your fund through Courier Service, acceptable and payable to you. I advice you to co-operate with me and listen to my advice as the Central Bank of Nigeria (cbn) will not be held responsible for any lapses or mis-direction of your fund due to your inability to co-operate with me who is in-charge as the executive governor of the central bank of Nigeria (CBN).
 
I can not vividly explain how this payment was generated / occurred to you, but i was informed before I resumed  office in  2009 that a contract with the federal government was executed in your favor by a foreign contractor, who at the point of execution did not receive his payments. Coupled with the fact that the computer departments of the central bank was burnt down some months ago before I resumed office, and all available information's as regards your  information's that was dropped by the foreign contractor was missing as well.
 
when we were able to trace burnt files we were only left with your email address which I cannot see clearly. When this payment notification was forwarded to my office, I  decided to contact you for immediate payment via Courier Service to your Door step.
 
I wish to inform you that your payment is being processed and will be released to you as soon as you respond to this letter. Also note that from the record in my file your outstanding contract payment is $3.5 Million United States Dollars only (Three million Five Hundred Thousand
United States Dollars only). Please re-confirm to me if this is inline with what you have in your record.
NB. Due to the high level of corruption in Nigeria the central bank of Nigeria has decided to pay you through our corresponding bank ( SANTANDER BANK UK) Awaiting to hear from you.
 
Regards,
Dr Sanusi Lamido Sanusi
 

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