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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:
- "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "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.
- 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.
- dr.geme0015@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "MR. EMEFIELE GODWIN (CBN GOVERNOR)" <emefieleg0100@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: dr.geme015@gmail.com
Date: Tue, 30 Jun 2015 16:12:29 +0400
Subject: YOUR NEXT OF KIN (Mrs.Barbara Kleihans) SAID THAT YOU ARE ON THE
SICK BED
CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA (CBN)
OUR REF: CBN/OHG/OXD31/15
TELEX: CENBANK.
PAYMENT FILE: CBN/BEN203/15.
DIRECT EMAIL: dr.geme0015@gmail.com
Atten:
Due to the urgency of the Executive Board meeting, Late Engr.Phillip Bruce
made a WILL DONATION of $10.5M in your name with our Bank as a FIX DEPOSIT
but Mrs.Barbara Kleihans contacted our Bank on the notice that you are
very sick and hospitalized for about A year and Seven Months now and even
explained in her letter that you entered into an agreement with her that
she should claim your WILL DONATION fund as your NEXT OF KIN. So here comes
the question ;
Did you sign any Deed of Assignment in favor of Mrs.Barbara Kleihans There
by making her the current beneficiary as your NEXT OF KIN. Please if you
did not sign or authorize her to receive your fund on your behalf kindly
reply immediately to avoid transferring your WILL DONATION fund to a wrong
person, Reconfirm your details immediately if you are not aware of this
claim by your next of kin;
1) Your full name.
2) Your Correct Address
3) Your Direct Telephone or Mobile Number
4) Your Profession, Age and Marital Status
5) Your Identity Card (if you have any valid one)
However we shall proceed to issue all payments details to her if we do not
hear from you within few working days from today. We are sorry for any
inconvenience and delay in transferring of this funds must have caused you.
Have a nice working day as I wait for your urgent reply.
OFFICIALLY SIGNED.
MR GODWIN EMEFELE
GOVERNOR
CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA.
DIRECT TEL/FAX: +234 816159225
DIRECT EMAIL: dr.geme0015@gmail.com
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Anti-fraud resources:
