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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:
- 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:
- "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)
- "executive governor" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "central bank of nigeria" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "cbnpaymentoffice@gala.net" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- 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.
- bpymntffcrg@aol.com (AOL; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr Bola Adams" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <cbnpaymentoffice@gala.net>
Date: Fri, 15 Oct 2010 05:38:17 -0700
Subject: PAYMENT UPDATE RE-PAYMENT USD$10.7M
Attn:Sir/Madam,
This is you notify you that the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Dr Goodluck.Ebere.Jonathan has ordered the Vice President Arch Namadi Sambo, with the Minister of Finance to contact the Standard Bank Plc of London as the Foreign Bank to supervise the payment of last quarter of the year payment which he approved to pay all overdue fund inheritance/overdue contract payment with the central bank of Nigeria which has be approved by the Presidency. The sum of USD$107Million dollars was approving for your payment. The payments must be completed before the election coming up in early January 2011, because of new hand over to new administration. You have to contact Mr. Bola Adams of the Central Bank of Nigeria on Email:bpymntffcrg@aol.com.
1) YOUR FULL NAME.......
2) HOMEADDRESS....
3) DIRECT PHONE/OFFICE..........
4) AGE/OCCUPATION..........
5) BANKING DETAILS............
6) YOUR DRIVING LICENSE.OR ANY PHOTO COPY ID CARD OF YOURS.
As soon as we receive your reconfirmation of your details as above, we will immediately proceed with processing your fund delivery and further details will be communicated to you as regarding your fund delivery payment. Get back to me as soon as you read my mail to enable us proceed.
BEST REGARDS
Mr. Bola Adams,
For: Executive Governor CBN.
Email:cbnpaymentoffice@gala.net
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