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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:
- "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: "Mr. Chris Mathew" <matriwen@matriwen.com>
Reply-To: chrismathew@webmail.cd
Date: Sat, 15 Sep 2018 15:26:37 -0800
Subject: Re: Contract/Beneficiary Payment
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From:Mr.Chris Mathew
Operations Manager
E-Banking Unit
Central Bank of Nigeria
Re: Contract/Beneficiary Payment
This is to inform you that Your payment has been approved this Morning
through UBA Visa Card.You are now operating a CBN non-residential
account.
The visa card is valid for two years which all statement will be sent to
you and also to us.As soon as you download the loaded funds,the card
becomes invalid.You can check your balance at any ATM using your pin
number.All you have to do is to fill the Debit Card Application form and
email back to me; the form should be sent to E-Banking Unit so that your
visa card will be processed.
It takes 24hrs or 48hrs to be processed immediately the application is
received. Attached is the visa card application form which you are
obliged
to fill and get back to me.Clearly state your cell phone, fax number and
delivery address where you want the card to be delivered to you either
FEDEX COURIERS or DHL.Due to security reasons Please indicate this code,
which is (CBN/FGN448).
You have to indicate this code when contacting the E-Banking Unit.
Yours Faithfully,
Mr.Chris Mathew
Operations Manager.
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Anti-fraud resources:
