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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.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Stanley Madu" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mrstanleymadu@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Mon, 12 May 2014 14:57:02 +0100
Subject: Urgently confirm your payment

FROM THE DESK OF: MR. STANLEY MADU
DIRECTOR FOREIGN PAYMENTS
CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA (C.B.N)
OUR REF: CBN/IRD/CBX/021/14
ATTN: BENEFICIARY.
IMMEDIATE PAYMENT ORDER.
THIS IS TO NOTIFY YOU THAT YOUR OVER DUE CONTRACT/INHERITANCE/WINNING FUNDS HAS FINALLY BEEN GAZETTED TO BE RELEASED VIA KEY TELEX TRANSFER (KTT) TO YOU BY THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN OVER DUE CONTRACT/INHERITANCE FUND.
MEANWHILE, A WOMAN CAME TO MY OFFICE FEW DAYS AGO WITH A LETTER, CLAIMING TO BE YOUR TRUE REPRESENTATIVE. SHE SAID THAT YOU ARE DEAD AND BEFORE YOU DIED, YOU GAVE HER THE POWER OF ATTORNEY TO CLAIM YOUR PAYMENT ON YOUR BEHALF. HERE IS THE INFORMATION SHE FORWARDED FOR THE TRANSFER OF YOUR PAYMENT:
NAME JANET T. WHITE
BANK NAME: CITI BANK
BANK ADDRESS:  CHICAGO, USA.
SWIFT: CITIUS33CHI
ACCOUNT NUMBER: 6503809428
PLEASE, DO RECONFIRM TO THIS OFFICE, AS A MATTER OF URGENCY IF THIS WOMAN IS FROM YOU SO THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL NOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING INTO THE WRONG ACCOUNT NAME.
IF THIS WOMAN IS NOT YOUR REPRESENTATIVE, YOU ARE REQUESTED TO RECONFIRM YOUR INFORMATION BY FILLING THE SPACES BELLOW AND FOR VERIFICATION PURPOSES SO THAT YOUR FUND VALID FOR US$12,700,000.00 UNITED STATES DOLLARS WILL BE REMITTED INTO YOUR NOMINATED BANK ACCOUNT.
THIS FUND IS AS A RESULT OF YOUR CONTRACT/INHERITANCE/WINNING PAYMENT.
1. YOUR NAME:.............
2. YOUR ADDRESS:...............
3. YOUR TEL/FAX:............
4. BANK NAME:...............
5. BANK ADD:....................
6. ACCOUNT NAME:..................
7. ACCOUNT NO: ..............
8. SWIFT/ROUTING NUMBER:............
AS SOON AS WE RECEIVE YOUR RESPONSE AND THE CONFIRMATION, WE WILL COMMENCE WITH ALL NECESSARY PROCEDURES IN OTHER TO REMIT THIS MONEY INTO YOUR ACCOUNT OR THAT OF YOUR REPRESENTATIVE MRS. JANET WHITE.
I THE CENTRAL BANK REPRESENTATIVE,THE EXECUTIVE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND THE SENATE COMMITTEE FOR FOREIGN OVER DUE CONTRACT/INHERITANCE PAYMENT HAVE APPROVED AND ACCREDITED THIS REPUTABLE BANK WITH THE OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR, INTERNATIONAL REMITTANCE / FOREIGN OPERATIONS,TO HANDLE AND TRANSFER ALL FOREIGN CONTRACT PAYMENT IN THE LIST OF THIS SECOND QUARTER PAYMENT OF THE YEAR.
HOWEVER, WE SHALL PROCEED TO ISSUE ALL PAYMENTS DETAILS TO THE SAID MRS.WHITE, IF WE DO NOT HEAR FROM YOU WITHIN THE NEXT 3 WORKING DAYS FROM TODAY.
WE ARE SORRY FOR ANY INCONVENIENCE AND DELAY IN TRANSFERRING OF THESE FUNDS MUST HAVE CAUSED YOU.
YOURS FAITHFULLY,
MR. STANLEY MADU,
DIRECTOR FOREIGN PAYMENTS
CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA (C.B.N)
CC: THE NIGERIAN SENATE COMMITTEE.
CC: BOARD OF DIRECTOR (FPD).
CC: FEDERAL MINISTRY OF FINANCE.
CC: ACCOUNTANT GENERAL OF NIGERIA.
CC: OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT.

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