joewein.net   joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days
  jwSpamSpy

Home
About Us
Spam
419/Nigeria
Fraud
Contact

"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:

Fraud email example:

From: "Lamido Sanusi" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <lamidosanusi.governor@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 24 Jan 2014 08:04:25 -0600
Subject: Payment Approval of Your fund of US$7.5m

>From The Official Desk Of
Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi
Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria
Lagos - Nigeria .
 
 
Attention: The Beneficiary
 
 
Sir/Madam,
 
 
Subject:    Irrevocable Payment Approval of Your fund of US$7.5m
 
 
We apologize, for the delay of your payment and all the inconveniences and inflict that we might have indulged you through. However, we were having some minor problems with our payment system, which is inexplicable, and have held us stranded and indolent, not having the aspiration to devote our 100% assiduity in accrediting foreign contract payments.
 
It might interest you to note the Chairman, Senate Committee on Local & Foreign Debt Payment, has approved your payment. Your file has been submitted to my table for prompt payment.
 
It might interest you to note that the issue of payment has been withdrawn from every other bank/ministry in Nigeria due to unpatriotic/unofficial system of the officials which instead of paying the approved beneficiaries they turn in charging unofficial fees.
 
Information was given that you have sold your fund payment/inheritance to one Ms Maria Davis of Texas United States of America and that all documents regarding to the payment should go to Ms Maria Davis and fund should be transfer to her below stated bank account.
 
Bank: Citi Bank Texas NA.
A/C #: 9772524019
Routing # 113193532
A/c Name: Ms Maria Davis
 
I want you to confirm the above stated information if they are correct, to enable us move forward on the reform program.
 
 
Waiting for your urgent reply via return mail for immediate conclusion of your payment.
 
 
Please get back to me immediately.
 
 
Yours Faithfully,
 
Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi
Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria. 
 
 
 

Anti-fraud resources: