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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:
- "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: OFFICE CBN <infocentralbankofnig@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: OFFICE CBN <officeinfocbn@yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 16 Jan 2017 05:33:34 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: Your Banking Details.
Attention: Sir
Congratulations! Happy new year. We has been concluded in the meeting with Federal Government of Nigeria regarding your contract fund US$10.5million which we need to pay you as the rightful beneficiary of (Ten Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars only), you need to send us your banking details to enable me transfer your fund into your bank account without any further delay.
(1) Your Names:
(2) Your Bank Name:
(3) Your Bank Address:
(4) Your A/C NO:
(5) Your Swift code:
(6) Your Phone and fax number:
(7) Your ID card
I am waiting for your urgent reply.
Best Regards,
Mr. Frank Chukwu
Director Foreign Remittance {CBN}
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Anti-fraud resources: