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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:
- "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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "diplomatic courier" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "a diplomat " ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "charles soludo" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "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)
- "lagos" (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 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.
- +2348060525069 (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.
- charchuksolu@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: <charchuksolu@yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 29 Oct 2008 12:35:39 +0000
Subject: URGENTLY WAITING FOR YOUR RESPONSE
CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIATINUBU SQUARE VICTORIAISLAND LAGOS NIGERIA [OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR]CONTRACT #: MAV/NNPC/FGN/MIN/009,Swift Code: BPH KPL PK,
CENTRAL BANK NIGERIAOur Ref: CBN/IRD/CBX/021/04
RE: IMMEDIATE CONTRACT PAYMENT #: AV/NNPC/FGN/MIN/007On behalf of the entire Staff of the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Federal Government of Nigeria in collaboration with IMF and World Bank. We apologies for the delay of your Contract Payment and all the Inconveniences you encountered while pursuing this payment.However, from the Records of outstanding Contractors due for payment with the Federal Government of Nigeria, your Name and Company was discovered as next on the list of the outstanding Contractors who have not yet received their payments.I wish to inform you now that the square peg is now in square hole and your payment is being processed and will be released to you as soon as you respond to this letter. Also note that from the record in my file, your outstanding Contract Payment is US$10,700,000.00 (Ten Million Seven Hundred Thousand United States Dollars).Kindly 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) Working Identity Card/Int'l Passport. 6) Nearest airportAs soon as the above mentioned details are received, your payment will be made to you via diplomatic courier delivery in accordance to World Bank and IMF recommendations. A diplomat with international travel immunity will be contracted to deliver the funds at your doorstep.Yours Faithfully, Professor Charles Soludo,Executive Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)TEL+234-806-052-5069
charchuksolu@yahoo.com
Anti-fraud resources: