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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:
- "central bank of nigeria" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "abuja" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "stevenmartins@yahoo.cn" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- 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: "Mrs. Patricia Moore." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <ofnigeriacentralbank@yahoo.cn>
Date: Wed, 21 Mar 2012 15:37:58 +0200
Subject: CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA
This is to officially inform you that we have verified your Contract/Inheritance file presently on our desk.We found out that you have not fulfilled the obligations given to you in respect to your contract payment.
Secondly, you are hereby advised to stop dealing with some non-officials is an illegal act and will have to stop if you so wish to receive your payment immediately.
After the Board of director's meeting held in Abuja,we have resolved in finding a solution to your problem. We have arranged your payment through our SWIFT PAYMENT CENTRE.
This is part of an instruction/mandate passed by the Senate in respect to overseas contract payment and debt re-scheduling. contact the Deputy Director ATM Foreign Payments Mr. Khalid Anderson Contact him now for the collection of your ATM card Worth [Nine Hundred And Fifty Thousand United States Dollars] ($950,000.00); and Kindly Reconfirm your:
(1) Your Full Name:
(2) Full residential address:
(3) Phone And Fax Number:
(4) Age:
(5) Occupation:
We shall be expecting to receive your information as you have to stop any further communication with anybody or office aside our.
NOTE : YOU ARE TO SEND YOUR RESPONSE TO THE E-MAIL ADDRESS BELOW:
Contact Agent: Mr. Steven Martins
Email Address: stevenmartins@yahoo.cn
Contact Number: +2348023191167
Thank you for your co-operation.
BEST REGARDS,
Mrs. Patricia Moore.
CC: CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA
CC: SENATE PRESIDENT
CC: ALL FOREIGN PAYMENT OFFICES
CC: BOARD OF DIRECTORS [CBN]
CC: ACCOUNTANT GENERAL OF THE FEDERATION
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Anti-fraud resources:
