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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:

Fraud email example:

From: "Dr.william L.Shan" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <officemail201033@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 22 Jul 2011 14:12:40 -0700
Subject: Official letter from Dr.William L.Shan

FROM THE DESK OF: DR.WILLIAM L. SHAN
REMITTANCE OFFICER FOR CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA
IMMEDIATE CONTRACT PAYMENT
REF: CBN/IRD/CBX/021/2011
 
Attention: Beneficiary,
 
This is to notify you that your over due inheritance funds has been gazette to be released, via key telex transfer (KTT) - direct wire transfer to you or through any of our correspondent bank nominated by the senate committee for foreign over due fund transfer.
 
Meanwhile, a woman came to my office few days ago with a letter, claiming to be your true representative. here are her information for you to confirm to this office if this woman is truly from you or not so that the federal government will not be held responsible for paying into any wrong accounts.
 
Claim Name: Janet White
Bank Name: City Bank Arizona, USA.
Account Number: 6503809428.
 
Please, do reconfirm to this office, as a matter of a urgency if this woman is from you. you  are requested to fill and send this information for verifications purposes so that your fund valid us$3.5.m(Three Point Five  million united state dollars) will be remitted into your nominated bank account any where.
 
This fund is as a result of inheritance on your behalf .information needed from you for verification is as follows:
1. Your name.............................
2. Your full address:...................................
3. Your direct phone number..................................
4. Fax...................................................
5.Age......................................................
6. Sex:....................................
7. Your occupation:......................................
 
As soon as we receive this, we will commence with all  necessary procedures in other to remit this money into your account. the central bank governor, in conjunction with the federal ministry of finance (FMF) executive board of directors and the senate committee for foreign over due inheritance fund have approved and accredited this reputable bank with the office of the director, international remittance/foreign operations, to handle and transfer all foreign inheritance funds first payment of the year 2011.
 
However, we shall proceed to issue all payments details to the said Mrs. White ,if we do not hear from you within the next seven working days from today. we are sorry for any inconvenience the delay in transferring of this fund must have caused you.
Congratulations.
 
Yours Sincerely,
 
Dr. William L.Shan
Remittance officer, central bank of nigeria (cbn)
Contact email: (dr.william.cnbconsultant@w.cn)
Direct contact #: +234-805-309-2682
CC: federal high court
CC: office of the presidency approved stamp 55/rr/tt.
CC: efcc nigeria batch(nig6454/inst7).

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