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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:
- "million 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)
- "you are advice to " (this email uses bad English)
- "(efcc)" (This name is often mentioned in money recovery scams (re-scam): the real EFCC does not contact victims to offer to get their money back because that is near impossible. )
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "central bank of nigeria" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "(ecowas)" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "lagos" (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.
- Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
- 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.
- cbn.centrabank.cbn@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "ECONOMICAL FINANCIAL CRIME COMMISSION (EFCC)." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <cbn.centrabank.cbn@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 19 Feb 2012 14:22:20 -0800
Subject: FRAUD VICTIMS COMPENSATION
Dear Beneficiary
I am MR IBRAHIM LAMORDE the acting chairman of ECONOMICAL FINANCIAL CRIME COMMISSION (EFCC).
EFCC in alliance with economic community of West African states (ECOWAS) with head Office here in Nigeria .
We have been working towards the eradication of fraudsters and scam Artists in Western part of Africa .
Who claims that they are barristers/bank officials, Lottery Agents who has money for transfer or want you to be the next of kin of funds which do not
exist.
With the help of United States Government and the United Nations We have been able to track down so many of this scam artist in various parts of
west African countries which includes (NIGERIA, REPUBLIC OF BENIN, TOGO, GHANA CAMEROUN AND SENEGAL) and they are all in our custody
here in Lagos Nigeria. We have been able to recover so much money from these scam artists.
The United Nation Anti-crime commission and the United State Government have Order the money recovered from the Scammers to be shared
among 100 Lucky people around the globe.
This mail is been directed to you because your email address was found in one of the scam Artists file and computer hard disk in our custody here
in Nigeria. You are therefore been Compensated with $2.5Million Dollars.
Since your name appeared among the beneficiaries who will receive a compensation of $2.5.million we have arranged your payment through the
central bank of Nigeria (CBN) as to aviod imposters, Feel free to contact DR SANUSI LAMIDO SANUSI. The Governor of the central bank of Nigeria
to enable him prepare your payment without delays
So you are advice to contact email;cbn.centrabank.cbn@gmail.com
Attn:DR SANUI LAMIDO SANUSI
Therefore you are required to re-confirm your information for verification and immediate payment within 24 hours
1. YOUR FULL NAME
2. PHONE AND FAX NUMBER,
3. ADDRESS / D.O.B ( Date Of Birth)
4. YOUR AGE AND CURRENT OCCUPATION
5. A COPY OF DRIVER'S LICENSE
6. COUNTRY OF RESIDENCE
7. VALID ID
Best Regard
MR IBRAHIM LAMORDE.
(Acting Chairman EFCC)
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Anti-fraud resources:
