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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: "D.O.S" <<>>
Reply-To: <weswrightassociates@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 9 Jul 2020 19:07:33 -0000
Subject: COMPENSATION FUND PAYMENT ORDER VIA ATM CARD

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
1500 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20220.
 
Attn: Dear Fund Beneficiary,
 
                                                        COMPENSATION FUND PAYMENT ORDER VIA ATM CARD
 
This is to inform you that, We have been working towards the disbursement of funds recovered from fraudsters in Africa and the world in general, with the help of the Organization of African Unity (OAU), United Nations (UN), European Union (EU), International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). With the help of the FBI, we have been able to track down so many of this scam artist, they are all in government custody now and will appear before the International Criminal Court (ICC) Hague (Netherlands) soon for criminal/fraud Justice.
 
Furthermore, the United Nations Anti-Crime Commission and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have ordered the money recovered from cyber criminals to be paid out to victims as restitution benefits. This Email/Letter is directed to you because your email address was found in the file and computer hard-disk belonging to one of the scam artist during investigations by the Anti-crime agency, therefore you are due for restitution valued at US$1,500,000.00 as a beneficiary of this payment schedule. Some of those who claim to be barristers, bank officials, lottery agents involved in sending out phishing emails are also been interrogated. We have a mandate to compensate scammed victims with the recovered loot which is programmed to be paid out through ATM Visa/MasterCard by the endorsed paying bank. An ATM Card will be issued in your name ready to be delivered to your home or postal address with the Pin Code Number, as to enable you make withdrawals from any bank ATM Machine worldwide.
 
For your details review and for the issuance of the ATM Card, you are advised to contact the Attorney in Charge of your payment delivery supervision because the ATM Visa/MasterCard is a secured global payment technology that enables consumers, businesses, financial institutions and government approved agencies to use digital currency instead of cash and checks. Kindly contact the ATM Card Issuance Department Head with the below contact details:
 
CONTACT PERSON: Mr. Wesley Wright
EMAIL: weswrightassociates@gmail.com
TEL:  +1 (530) 314-2357
 
Contact Mr. Wesley Wright with your ATM CARD sort code (ATM-6006X1AP/1) for immediate delivery of your ATM Card. As soon as you establish a contact with him, an ATM Card will be issued to you immediately by the bank as soon as your details has been reviewed for confirmation that you truly own the email address to avoid a case of impersonation and mis-match of information as witnessed in the past. For a quick confirmation of your restitution benefit through this means, you are advised to contact the Attorney, Mr. Wesley Wright with the following information as stated below:
 
1. Your Full Names: 
2. Address Were You Want The ATM Card to be delivered to or (P.O Box): 
3. Your Age: 
4. Occupation: 
5. Cell/Mobile Number:
6. Your ATM sort code: 
 
Also note that the IMF has concluded every legal cost from financial offices to enable a successful delivery of your ATM Card without any hitch or delay based on the agreement made, all recipient beneficiary is mandated to remit the sum of $325 being the fixed delivery cost of all ATM Cards to designated address through UPS or FedEx delivery once dispatched by the bank. On the receipt of your ATM Card delivery, it is programmed for instant use and as such you have 48hours to respond to this email letter or you risk your ATM Card payment approval revoked and your benefits will be withdrawn indefinitely.
 
Important Notice: This is not a scam and we do not want any form of scam abuse to this office. This compensation fund was endorsed by the United States Government and the United Nations in conjunction with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, this means that your safety is fully guaranteed. Also be warned, the United Nations Anti-Crime Commission and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have not instructed any other bank or agent on this process aside the Attorney (MR. WESLEY WRIGHT) to  whom  we  can  only  give  attention  to,  and  from  now henceforth,  we advice you desist from all contacts you are having with any other persons or bank officials in Europe, Asia or Africa regarding your payment to avoid being ripped off. This email was sent as intended, if it gets to you wrongly, kindly decline and pay no attention to it as it is strictly confidential and not for public use.
 
Thanks for your understanding as your adherence to the above instructions is highly anticipated.
 
YOURS IN SERVICE.
 
MR. STEVEN TERNER MNUCHIN
SECRETARY, DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY.

Anti-fraud resources: