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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:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "transfer into your 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)
- "million dollars" (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.
Fraud email example:
From: Central Bank <joelcharlessweren2@gmail.com>
Date:
Subject:
Attention: Customer.
It is my pleasure to inform you that the Minister of Finance have
given the instruct to the Central Bank of Nigeria to offer you the sum
of $500.000.00 Us dollars out of your principle fund valued $15.5
million dollars to take care of the taxes demanded for the process of
your fund $15.5 million dollars to transfer into your account.
Fill this information and return it immediately for the transfer of
$500.000.00 Us dollars into your account.
Account Details.
1) Beneficiary Name:.......
2) Bank Name: ............
3) Account Number:.......
4) Swift Code:...........
5) Routing Number: .......
6) City:. ..........
7) Country:...........
Beneficiary Address:......
Current Telephone..............
ID copy:............
Respectfully submitted,
Thanks God Bless You Yours
Governor Godwin Emefiele
Email/ redacted@domain.name
Email/ redacted@domain.name
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Anti-fraud resources:
