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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:

Fraud email example:

From: "U.S. Secretary of State" <test@spicebpo.in>
Reply-To: <allan.smith3@aol.com>
Date: Tue, 13 Dec 2011 05:32:00 +0100
Subject: ATM MasterCard Payment Release Update!!!

U.S DEPARTMENT OF STATE
2201 C Street NW Washington, DC 20520
D I P L O M A C Y   I N   A C T I O N
Attention:  Unpaid Beneficiary
Ref.: ATM MasterCard Payment Release Update
I wish to use this medium and my office to inform you that your Contract/Inheritance Payment of US$10, 500,000.00 only from Central Bank Of Nigeria has been approved for onward release to you via ATM MasterCard which will be issued to you by the Central Bank of Nigeria as soon as you make contact with the Card Payment Department of the Central Bank of Nigeria.
The United States Government and the Federal Government of Nigeria has mandated the Central Bank of Nigeria to issue the said ATM MasterCard in your name as soon as you send the required details to the Card Payment Department of the Central Bank of Nigeria immediately you receive this email.
CBN ATM MASTERCARD DEPARTMENT CONTACT DETAILS.
Name: Mr. Allan Smith
Office: ATM CARD DEPARTMENT
Phone No.:  +234-802 088 6462
Email: allan.smith3@aol.com
NOTE: Inform Mr. Allan Smith that you received a message from Office of the U.S. Secretary of State to issue you the ATM MasterCard in your name.
Please make sure you send to him your details without any further delays.
Name:
Address:
Phone:
Email:
Finally, please bear in mind that you will have to take care of the Mailing, Insurance and Issuance Charges for the delivery of your ATM MasterCard to your address which will cost you about US$220.00; Most importantly, I will like you to understand that the charges cannot be deducted from your ATM MasterCard because it has been endorsed by Nigerian and American Government so do not expect them or even ask them to conduct any kind of deduction.
I am very sorry for the delay you have gone through in the past years as this office was obliged to intervene in this matter after receiving a notice from the logistics department of the Central Bank of Nigeria regarding the irregularities on the release of your funds to you.
Thanks for adhering strictly to these instructions and once again accept my congratulations.
Best Regards,
 
Mrs. Hillary Rodham Clinton
U.S. Secretary of State

Anti-fraud resources: