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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.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "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)
- "million 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)
- "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)
- "www.cenbank.org" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "certified bank draft" (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
- 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.
- +2348068080435 (Nigeria, 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.
- charlessoludoofficemail@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
- 3acharlessoludoofficemail@gmail.com
Fraud email example:
From: "Prof Charles Soludo" <profcharles06@student.com>
Reply-To: profsoludocentralbankofnig@yahoo.com
Date: Mon, 30 Jun 2008 06:22:38 -0700
Subject: FINAL CONTRACT/NEXT OF KIN PAYMENT VERIFICATION.
FINAL CONTRACT/NEXT OF KIN PAYMENT VERIFICATION.
Executive Governor
Central Bank of Nigeria.
PROF CHARLES CHUKWUMA SOLUDO
website: http://www.cenbank.org
Tel: +234 8068080435.
Private email:charlessoludoofficemail@gmail.com<email%3Acharlessoludoofficemail@gmail.com>
FINAL CONTRACT/NEXT OF KIN PAYMENT VERIFICATION.
ATTENTION: BENEFICIARY.
Following the protest of the International Community, The World Bank,
IMF and the instruction by the President and Commander in Chief of the
armed forces (Alhaji Umaru Yar'Adua) that all outstanding foreign debts
especially next of kin payment should be released to the beneficiaries
forth with unconditionally.
From the records of outstanding debts due for payment with the Federal
government of Nigeria your name was discovered as next on the list of
the outstanding, who have not received their payments. We wish to 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 my record in
my file your outstanding contract payment is US $6 million dollars (Six
Million United States Dollars).
Please re-confirm to me if this is online with what you have in your
record and also re-confirm to me the followings.
1) Your full name.
2) Phone, fax and mobile #.
3) Company name, position and address.
4) Profession, age and marital status.
5) Copy of int'l passport, drivers license, or any valid ID card.
As soon as this information is received, your payment will be made to
you in a Certified Bank Draft from Central Bank of Nigeria within the
next 48 hours.
Regards,
Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo
Anti-fraud resources:
