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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "atm payment department" (this phrase is often used in the ATM card payment scam)
- "card center will send you an atm card" (this phrase is often used in the ATM card payment scam)
- "million united states dollars" (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)
- ",000,000" (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)
- "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.
- This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- dr_ahmed_suleman1@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "APPROVED(ATM 811)" <dr_ahmed_suleman1@hotmail.com>
Date: Sat, 04 Oct 2008 03:30:15 -1200
Subject: YOUR PAYMENT HAVE BEEN APPROVED(ATM 811)
OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR OF OPERATION
ATM PAYMENT DEPARTMENT(CBN)
CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA.
TEL LINE: +234-7030-989-684
DATE: 04/10/2008
SIR/MADAM,
CONGRATULATIONS!YOUR PAYMENT HAVE BEEN APPROVED(ATM 811)
You have Just been approved of ($3,000,000.00) in the
ongoing
ATM CARD AWARD NOTIFICATION FROM THE CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA
2008
In view of this your approved amount of ($3,000,000.00)
three million United States Dollars)this card center will
send you an ATM CARD which you will use to withdraw your
money in any ATM machine in any part of the world.But the
maximum withdrawal is FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS PER DAY.
If you like to receive your fund this way,do contact us by
sending the following informations:
1. YOUR FULL NAME
2. PHONE AND FAX NUMBER
3. ADDRESS WERE YOU WANT THEM TO SEND THE ATM CARD
4. YOUR AGE AND CURRENT OCCUPATION
5. ATTACH COPY OF YOUR IDENTIFICATION
Regards,
DR.AHMED SULEMAN
DIRECTOR,ATM PAYMENT DEPARTMENT(CBN)
TELEPHONE LINE:+234-7030-989-684
EMAIL; dr_ahmed_suleman1@hotmail.com
Anti-fraud resources:
