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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)
- "fund beneficiary" (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)
- "central bank of nigeria" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "abuja" (a location commonly mentioned 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: "Dr Tunde Lemo (Central Bank of Nigeria)" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <drtundelemodesk1@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Wed, 4 Jan 2012 20:26:31 -0000
Subject: Attention: Fund Beneficiary ===Very uRGENT
Central Bank of Nigeria
Plot 33 Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Way,
Central Business District F.C.T Abuja
Tel: +234-8022132112
Re: Corporate Visa Card
Attention: Fund Beneficiary,
IMMEDIATE PAYMENT NOTIFICATION
I am the newly appointed Deputy Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, My name is DR. TUNDE LEMO.
On assumption of office on the 1st of December 2011 I discovered that you are being owed the sum of
Ten Million, Five hundred thousand United States Dollars as unpaid contract/inheritance/lottery fund
in Contractors Category [A] Record file.
Therefore you are required to re-confirm your information for verification and immediate payment within
24 hours.
Your Full Name: ______________
Your Complete Address__________________________
Name of City of Residence:____________________
Country:______________________________________
Direct Telephone Number:______________________
Mobile Number:________________________________
AGE :_________________________________________
Fax Number:___________________________________
Occupation: ________________________________
We shall not entertain impostors and you must proof that you are the rightful owner of this funds before
final payment commences.
Finally, you have the right to make choice between these modes of payments.
A) WIRE TRANSFER (BANK TO BANK)
B) ATM VISA CARD PAYMENT
Get back to me immediately.
Yours in Service,
Dr. Tunde Lemo
Deputy Governor
CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA
Direct Telephone: +234-8022132112
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Anti-fraud resources:
