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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:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "processing fee" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "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.
- 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.
- davidmark01@aim.com (AOL Instant Messenger; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: ROSE IDRIS <idrisrose01@yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 5 Sep 2011 21:38:41 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: RE: WAIVER ON YOUR FEE
Attn:Beneficiary/Contractor.
RE: WAIVER ON YOUR FEE
Be informed that the meeting held between Federal Government of Nigeria and United Nations (UN) with International Monetary Fund(IMF) regarding our foreign contractors payment owning by the Federal Government of Nigeria.
Note that all the fees you are supposed to pay before receiving your contract fund have been waived off. You are to contact Dr.KolaB.Jamodu,Director Foreign Payment Credit Unit, Central Bank of Nigeria(CBN),on email:kolabjamodu_crediting@live.com Tel:234-809-505-6343 and pay to him US$110 only for your processing fee and he will transfer your contract fund to you immediately. You have no other payment to make except the US$110.
Contact the Security Monitoring Unit on email:davidmark01@aim.com if there is any delay from the so called gentleman in charge.
Any other contact or payment you make apart from the one hundred and Ten dollars is at your own risk.
Forward your bank account your telephone and fax number with your original contract sum, so that it will cross check to faster your payment immediately.
You have been notified and why Your reply awaiting.
Yours faithfully,
Mrs Rose Idris
Head Of foreign Operations
On Foreign Contractors
Central Bank Of Nigeria(CBN).
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Anti-fraud resources:
