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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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:
- "the required fees" (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. )
- "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. )
- "mtcn" (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. )
- "huge amount of money" (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)
- "to 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)
- "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.
- centralbank_info11@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: text@test.com
Reply-To: centralbank_info11@yahoo.com
Date: Sat, 08 Mar 2014 09:10:45 -0500
Subject: Attention !!!
Attention.
This is to inform you that the senate committee on finance and foreign payment/board of directors of central bank of Nigeria has finally approved your fund for immediate transfer to your nominated bank account.
Be informed that the new director of international remittance of central bank of Nigeria (Dr.Ernest Ebi) is now in charge of the transfer of all foreign payments.
You are hereby advised to reconfirm your bank account information’s immediately to avoid any mistake during the transfer of your fund.
You are to send $550 only through western union money transfer with the name of central bank account officer {Mr. Paul Eke} for TELEGRAPHIC SCREEN CHARGE/TRANSFER PIN CODE of your fund and forward the MTCN as soon as you send it to enable us transfer your fund immediately and send you your transfer confirmation SLIP.
I will also like to inform you that your fund has been programmed already for transfer to your nominated bank account in your country, we do not accept delays when huge amount of money is been programmed in our system for security reasons. You should make sure you send the required fees ($550) immediately as I have instructed you.
You are advised to STOP all further communication and follow my instruction immediately.
I am urgently waiting for your action.
Sincerely,
Congratulations!
Email: centralbank_info11@yahoo.com
Dr.Ernest Ebi.
New director of international remittance (CBN)
Central Bank of Nigeria
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Anti-fraud resources:
