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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:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- ",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)
- "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "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: "Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)" <frodozi002@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 14 Apr 2023 06:37:02 +0100
Subject: Re: Your payment release notification
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Dear sir,
This is an official payment release notification from the Central Bank of
Nigeria (CBN) informing you about the release of your payment for the sum
of $5.5M through an ATM card payment.
We have issued an ATM card worth the sum of Five Million Five Hundred
Thousand United Sates Dollars (US$5,500,000.00) Only for your payment with
the Nigerian government.
You are therefore required to furnish us with your mailing address where we
should send your ATM card to as we will be sending your ATM card to your
address via courier service delivery.
We shall send the card to you as soon as you confirm your mailing address
to avoid mistakes or sending the card to a wrong address.
Your urgent response would expedite action on your payment.
Mr. frank Odozi
Director of Operations ATM card dept.
Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)
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Anti-fraud resources:
