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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:
- "hundred thousand united states 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)
- ",500,000" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "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.
- 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.adelabuu@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "WORLD BANK FUND PAYMENT" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <a.adelabuu@consultant.com>
Date: Fri, 21 Oct 2016 05:19:43 +0700
Subject: PLEASE CONTACT CBN FOR YOUR FUND TRANSFER
(WORLD BANK) Head Office
The World Bank 1818 H Street,
N.W. Washington, DC 20433 U.S.A.
Debt Release Funds.
Our Ref:-4C9X0UE3X0
ATTN: BENEFICIARY.
In the quest to cushion the effect of the global financial crisis,
American government through World Bank, Federal Reserve Bank New York
and Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) signed an agreement with IMF for an
immediate release of all overdue funds presently logged in their
treasury and ensure it is disbursed to the rightful beneficiaries in
any part of the world. If you the beneficiary would adhere to this
notification it will help stabilize the various economies of the world
and reduce the effect of this depressing
recession.
Prior to this agreement our team of security experts has swung into action
for transparency and accountability of this periodic project. The
World Bank saddled with
the responsibility of monitoring economic activities have
discovered your name in the list of unpaid contractors and it might interest
you to know that we have conducted a comprehensive investigation on this
discovery as stipulated on our protocol of operation and have confirmed that
the fund was endorsed in your favor and it is 100% genuine and
hitch free from all facets. You have the lawful right to contact the
appropriate authority to claim your payment without further delay for the
release of your contract fund valued USD 25,500,000.00
(Twenty five Million Five hundred thousand United States dollars).
YOU ARE ADVICE TO IMMEDIATELY CONTACT THE REMITTANCE DIRECTOR OF
CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA
CBN WITH YOUR INFORMATION
YOUR FULL NAME:
YOUR HOUSE ADDRESS:
YOUR PHONE AND FAX NUMBER:
YOUR OCCUPATION AND POSITION:
YOUR AGE:
NAME: Dr. Adebayo Adelabu
REMITTANCE DIRECTOR CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA
Email: cbn.adelabuu@gmail.com
We advise that you go ahead in dealing with the CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA (CBN)
If you are presently dealing with any financial institution(s) or
person(s) claiming to have relevance to the payment of your overdue
funds out-side the above financial institution you are warned in your
own interest to stop further communication.
SIGNED
JIM YONG KIM
WORLD BANK GROUP PRESIDENT.
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Anti-fraud resources: