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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:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "power of attorney" (with your bank details and a power of attorney form criminals sometimes empty bank accounts)
- "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.
- 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.
- cbngovoffice2008@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "MR. GODWIN EMEFIELE" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <cbn.mr.godwinemefieele004@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 25 Feb 2015 05:52:32 -0500
Subject: SHOULD WE TRANSFER YOUR FUND INTO THIS ACCOUNT?REPLY.
FROM THE DESK OF MR. GODWIN EMEFIELE
GOVERNOR, CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA (CBN)
OUR REF: CBN/OHG/OXD1/15
YOUR REF:.................
TELEX: CENBANK.
PAYMENT FILE: CBN/BEN/15
TO YOUR ATTENTION.
This is to notify you of a new order on the release of your approved fund. You have been reported to be sick and hospitalized for about Two months now by your representative Engr. Williams Okon and your partner Mr. Marvyn Jon King forwarding the below account for the transfer of your approved fund as instructed by you with power of attorney tendered to us. Please Verify these information before we commence on the transfer process. We don't want to make any kind of mistake please.
HSBC BANK USA.
452 FIFTH AVENUE, NEW YORK NY 10018-2706
SWIFT CODE; MRMDUS 33
CREDIT TO; FINANCIAL BANK SWIFT CODE; FIBBBJBJ
ACCOUNT NO; 55139678
BENF; EXPRESS CASH.
I will require you to get back to this office with your decision in regards to those men that came for your fund claim. So do we go ahead to remit your fund into the account above?
Thank You.
OFFICIALLY SIGNED.
MR. GODWIN EMEFIELE
GOVERNOR CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA.
ALTERNATIVE: cbngovoffice2008@yahoo.com
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Anti-fraud resources:
