joewein.de LLC fighting spam and scams on the Internet

Try our spam filter! Free trial for 30 days

"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
• "Is that email a scam?" - Check it online here!
  
• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
  (+225 +229 +234 +27 +31 +32 +34 +44 other)
• Company names mentioned in 419 spam:
  1 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
• Support our efforts to stop scams!
  
• How to report 419 spam to us
• What can you do when you receive 419 spam
  
  
• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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.

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:
  • "outstanding contractors" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "your payment is being processed" (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)
  • "hundred thousand united states 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)
• 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.
  • +31626537142 (Netherlands, prepaid mobile phone)
• 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.
  • globalfinancenetwork_info@inbox.com

Fraud email example:

From: "Central Bank" <cbnofficialpayment@yahoo.de>
Date: Tue, 05 Jun 2007 17:55:31 -0900
Subject: Your Name & Company Discovered.

IMMEDIATE CONTRACT PAYMENT
CONTRACT #:MAV/NIPC/FGN/MIN/082

Attention,
CEO/PRESIDENT

From the records of outstanding contractors due for payment with the
Federal Government, your name and company was discovered as next on the list
of outstanding contractors who have not received their payment.

I wish to official inform you that your payment is being processed and will
be released to you as soon as you respond to this letter. Also note that
from the records on your file, your outstanding contract payment is
(US$15,500,000.00) Fifteen Million Five Hundred Thousand United States
Dollars Only.

Kindly re-confirm if this is inline with what you have in your records and
also re-confirm the followings.

1) Your full name.
2) Telephone, mobile and fax numbers
3) Company Name, Position and Address
4) Age and Marital Status

As soon as this information is received, your payment will be made to you
via a Diplomatic Baggage (Consignment), an international Certified Bank
Draft or Telegraphic Wire Transfer from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)
through their Offshore Payment Center in Europe and a slip will be given to
you to present to your bank for confirmation.

You should contact our Offshore Payment Center immediately with the
information below:
GLOBAL FINANCE NETWORK, AMSTERDAM-NETHERLANDS. CONTACT PERSON:
MR. MORRIS WALTERBEGG, TEL: +31 626 537 142 FAX: +31 847 369 035 E-MAIL:
globalfinancenetwork_info@inbox.com

Yours truly,

Prof. Charles C. Soludo
Executive Governor,
CBN.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam