|
|
joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
|
|
"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:
- "foreign payment unit" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
- "central bank of nigeria" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "abuja" (a location commonly mentioned 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.
- cbnpaymentofficeoffice@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Payment Coordinator <cmadamcecelia@gmail.com>
Reply-To: cbnpaymentofficeoffice@gmail.com
Date: Sat, 18 Mar 2023 00:59:19 +0100
Subject: Urgent Response.
Dear Sir/Ma
Hope my message meets you well and in good health.
This is an Urgent message from The Central Bank Of Nigeria to have you
informed about your long overdue unpaid contract/inheritance investment funds.
Be informed no bank or institution has power for the swift release of
your funds to your bank account in your country or elsewhere except on
our confirmation and instruction hence the delay all these while
because, we are the only people that can avail and access the payment
transfer access.
Therefore, kindly reconfirm your bank details, ID card, telephone
numbers which you can be reached at for more details to the payment
coordinator:
Foreign Payment Unit
Abuja
Email: cbnpaymentofficeoffice@gmail.com
Attn: Payment Coordinator
Meanwhile, from now on stay mute to all conversations from any office
or department except this office and once your details are reconfirmed
your fund will be released to you without any further delay.
We will be waiting for your response .
Payment Department.
Central Bank Of Nigeria.
|
Anti-fraud resources:
