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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:
- "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 mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- 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.
- prof.garbaprecious@presidency.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "PRESIDENCY" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <preciousgarba@ciudad.com.ar>
Date: Mon, 27 Jun 2011 20:33:29 +0100
Subject: PAYMENT NOTIFICATION
Attention: Sir/Madam,
DEBT SETTLEMENT//2010/$9.5MILLION
Sequel to the recommendation letter for presidential approval we received last week from National Assemble and Federal Ministry of Justice regarding your overdue fund payment, it is my pleasure to inform you that the recommendation letter has been received with total certification by the President and it has been ascertained that you are the rightful owner of the said fund.
Upon this therefore, I wish to let you know that your unclaimed fund of Nine Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($9.5m) which has been on hold has received presidential Approval for settlement.
However the governor of the central bank of Nigeria Mr. Lamido Sanusi recommended that you will receive your payment through our fiduciary paying center. According to him, this will fasten the payment process and will go along way to ascertain ownership since you will be paid in person and in cash. To enable Central Bank of Nigeria start the processing of the payment in your favor, you are to furnish the Director Banking and Payment System of the Central Bank of Nigeria Mr. Abayomi Atoloye with the under listed information.
YOUR ADDRESS....
YOUR TELEPHONE NUMBER...
YOUR IDENTIFICATION (INTERNATIONAL PASSPORT OR DRIVER'S LICENSE...
Once he receives this requested information, he will commence action. Below is the Contact information of the Director Banking and Payment System of the Central bank of Nigeria.
Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)
Director Banking and Payment System
Name: Mr. Abayomi Atoloye
Tel: +234 -818-471-6338
You are hereby advised to please expedite action in this regard so that your payment can be concluded in Ernest.
Sincerely.
PROFESSOR (MRS.) PRECIOUS KASSEY GARBA.
CHIEF ECONOMIC ADVISER TO THE PRESIDENT.
Prof.garbaprecious@presidency.com
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Anti-fraud resources:
