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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:
- "the diplomat " ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist 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.
- sanusilamido.gov.ng@freemail.hu (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Central Bank of Nigeria" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <governor.cbn.sanusi@freemail.hu>
Date: Fri, 14 May 2010 06:33:59 +0200
Subject: =?utf-8?Q?SpamF60?=
Please confirm this information.
Attn:Beneficiary
Did you ask MR Edmond Stock Beneker from USA to claim your funds Valued at $ 10 million from the central bank of Nigeria? This man was directed to us by Mr.John Adams the diplomat that are suppose to deliver your fund to you Please with matter of urgency get back to me immediately before things will go wrong. Below is the account details of Mr Edmond Beneker Where he want us to transfer your fund into.
Name on account: Edmond Beneker
Bank:Wachovia
Address:8233 Rochester Hwy. SC4600 Salem, SC 29676 USA
Acct.# : 1010246561978
Routing#:053207766
Swift Code: pnbpus76
He is trying to pay all the charges about your funds and claim your funds. Please your urgent confirmation is highly needed now before Your fund will be released to him in the next 48 hours,and please if you know that you never instructed him kindly get back to me immediately via my alternative email address
sanusilamido.gov.ng@freemail.hu
Regards,
SANUSI LAMIDO
Governor Central Bank of Nigeria
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Anti-fraud resources:
