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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:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "executive governor" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "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.
Fraud email example:
From: "EMEFIELE" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mrgodwinemefiele36@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 18 Aug 2014 20:46:24 -0400
Subject: CBN DEBT PAYMENT NOTICE OF YOUR FUNDS
FROM THE DESK OF MR GODWIN EMEFIELE
EXECUTIVE GOVERNOR, CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA (CBN)
OUR REF: CBN/OHG/OXD1/2014
YOUR REF:.................
TELEX: CENBANK.
PAYMENT FILE: CBN/BEN/010
CBN DEBT PAYMENT NOTICE OF YOUR FUNDS
Attn: Beneficiary,
My name is MR GODWIN EMEFIELE the Executive Governor Of The Central Bank
of Nigeria (CBN) and the Executive Chairman of "E.C.D.R".I discovered
that your name and email address (in the Central Computer among the list
of unpaid contractors, inheritance next of kin and lotto beneficiaries
that was originated from Africa (Nigerian Government) Europe, Asia Plus
Middle east, Americans) among the list of individuals and companies that
your unpaid fund has been located to a suspense account.
Your name appeared among the beneficiaries who will receive a part-
payment of $3 million and has been approved already for Payment.
PLEASE RECOMFIRME YOUR BANKING DETAIL FOR USE TO PROCEED.
OFFICIALLY SIGNED.
MR GODWIN EMEFIELE
GOVERNOR CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA
YSOYCLVXKGCIQFOYGJKQYBJKZRFSMFWBYZPOUT
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Anti-fraud resources:
