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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:
- "charles c. soludo" (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 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.
- mr.sanusi.a.lamido@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr.Sanusi.A.Lamido" <info22@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: <mr.sanusi.a.lamido@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 26 Aug 2009 19:39:14 -0700
Subject: IMMEDIATE ATTENTION TO YOUR PAYMENT/FUND RELEASE
Attn:Sir/Madam
This is to inform you that Prof. Charles C. Soludo former Governor Of Central Bank Nigeria has been arrested by the Economic & Financial Crime Commission (E.F.C.C) for embezzlement of contracts/Inheritance payments of more than 200 thousand Beneficiaries into his personal/hidden accounts.
As the new appointed Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), i have revisited your untransfer fund file and reported to the minister of finance accordingly. Base on this new trend, your funds have been approved after revalidation of the payment files by the Government. your contract/inheritance payment fund has been approved for immediate payment.
send below information for verification:
1) Your full name.
2) Phone, fax and mobile #.
3) Company name, position and address.
4) Profession, age and marital status.
5) Attach Copy of Identification
Awaiting your urgent response.
Respond to my private email address without delays: mr.sanusi.a.lamido@gmail.com
Best regard.
Mr.Sanusi.A.Lamido
Central Bank Governor (CBN)
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Anti-fraud resources:
