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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:
- 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:
- "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.
Fraud email example:
From: "UGOCHIYERE AKU" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <ugochiyereaku@gamil.com>
Date: Tue, 2 Feb 2010 15:33:06 -0800
Subject: CALL ME
From:Mr.UGOCHIYERE AKU
SWift Card Operations Manager (CBN)
E-Banking Unit
Central Bank of Nigeria
+23470 25 51 9030
Re: Contract/Beneficiary Payment
This is to inform you that Your payment has been approved this Morning through
HSBC DebitCard.You are operating a CBN account.
The visa card is valid for one year which all statement will be sent to you and
also to us.As soon as you download the loaded funds,the card becomes invalid.
You can check your balance at any ATM using your pin number.All you have to do
is to fill the Debit Card Application form and email back to me; the form should
be sent to E-Banking Unit so that your visa card will be processed.
It takes 24hrs or 48hrs to be processed immediately the application is
received. Attached is the visa card application form which you are obliged to
fill and get back to me.Clearly state your cell phone, fax number and delivery
address where you want the card to be delivered to you either through courier
despatch service limited or DHL.Due to security reasons Please indicate this
code, which is (CBN/FGN448). You have to indicate this code when contacting the
E-Banking Unit.
Yours Faithfully,
Mr.UGOCHIYERE AKU
SWift Card Operations Manager (CBN)
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Anti-fraud resources:
