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)
  • "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.
  • +2348066856356 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: <charchuksolu@yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 30 Oct 2008 22:15:31 +0000
Subject: URGENT RESPONSE NEEDED



CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA
TINUBU SQUARE VICTORIA
ISLAND LAGOS NIGERIA
[OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR]
CONTRACT #: MAV/NNPC/FGN/MIN/009,
Swift Code: BPH KPL PK, CENTRAL BANK NIGERIA
Our Ref: CBN/IRD/CBX/021/04
RE: IMMEDIATE CONTRACT PAYMENT #: AV/NNPC/FGN/MIN/007


On 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 airport


As 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+234-8066-856-356

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam