joewein.de LLC fighting spam and scams on the Internet

Try our spam filter! Free trial for 30 days

"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
• "Is that email a scam?" - Check it online here!
  
• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
  (+225 +229 +234 +27 +31 +32 +34 +44 other)
• Company names mentioned in 419 spam:
  1 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
• Support our efforts to stop scams!
  
• How to report 419 spam to us
• What can you do when you receive 419 spam
  
  
• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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.

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:
  • "atm payment department" (this phrase is often used in the ATM card payment scam)
  • "diplomatic agent" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
  • "international remittance department" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
  • "central bank of nigeria" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
  • "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned 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.
  • +2348034807496 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: WISDOM CHRIS <atm-55555555555555@msn.com>
Reply-To: <wisdom.chris9@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 10 Oct 2008 09:24:53 +0000
Subject: Attention:Beneflclary



CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA INTERNATIONAL REMITTANCE DEPARTMENT CORPORATE HEAD QUARTERS TINUBU SQUARE, LAGOSOFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONINTERNATIONAL CREDIT SETTLEMENT, CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA Attention:Beneflclary Dear, this is to officially inform you that we receive an instruction from theFederal Government of Nigeria to deliver your ATM card to you within 48hours ofour banking service without any further delay again. Please kindly re-confirmyour house address for easy delivery of your ATM card to avoid any wrongdelivery and also re-confirm your telephone number immediately for easycommunication. Bear in mind that as soon as we receive the above information, your ATM cardwill be delivered to you immediatly to your doorstep by our special diplomaticagent. We shall deligate our diplomatic gent to deliver your ATM card to yourdoorstep within 48hours of our banking service. The only money you are going to pay is the delivery fee which will cost youonly As soon as we receive your details ( information), the diplomatic agentwill be living for the delivery of your (ATM CARD) immediately.I am the new director of the (ATM DEPARTMENT) Please call me for moreinformation or email me back asap with the rsquested information. REGARDS, Thanks God bless you WISDOM CHRISDIRECTOR, ATM PAYMENT DEPARTMENT(CBN)CELLPHONE (+234-8034807496)

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam