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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:
- "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)
- "executive governor" (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: "FROM CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <wnsmith@globomail.com>
Date: Fri, 29 Jul 2011 17:12:28 +0200
Subject: FROM CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA
Good Day.
I wish to use this medium to inform you that your Payment of USD$10.5 (Ten Million Five Hundred thousand United States Dollars) from CENTRAL BANK have been RELEASED and APPROVED for onward Transfer to you Bank Wire or interswitch ATM CARD which you will use to withdraw all the USD$10.5 in any ATM SERVICE MACHINE in any part of the world, But the maximum you can withdraw in a day is USD$10,000.00.The Payment will be drawn from the NIPP account Intercontinental Bank as directed by the central Bank.
We have mandated INTERCONTINENTAL BANK PLC, to send you the ATM CARD with PIN NUMBER. You are therefore advised to contact deputy director foreign Monetary policy/payment Director as stated below
Contact Person: Wayne Smith,
Office email address: wnsmith@globomail.com
Phone: +2347062763881
Tell MR. Wayne Smith, that you received a message from the CENTRAL BANK Instructing him either wire the funds or to send you the ATM CARD and PIN NUMBER Which you will use to withdraw your USD$10.5 Dollars in any ATM SERVICE MACHINE in any part of the world also sends him your direct phone Number and contact address where you want him to send the ATM CARD and PIN NUMBER to you.
We are very sorry for the plight you have gone through in the past Years. Thanks for adhering to this instruction and once again accept our Congratulations.
Best Regards
MR SANUSI LAMIDO
Executive Governor,
Central Bank(CBN)
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Anti-fraud resources:
