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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.
- This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "million united state 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)
- "you are advice to " (this email uses bad English)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "atmcard75@hotmail.fr" (this email address looks like addresses used in "ATM SWIFT card" scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- 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.
- atmcard75@hotmail.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Robert Eze <clifordroyharris@sify.com>
Reply-To: atmcard75@hotmail.fr
Date: Wed, 20 Jan 2010 05:49:07 +0100
Subject: ATM MASTER CARD
Attn:
Our Ref: FGN /SNT/STB
This is to officially inform you that (ATM Card Number 4000101025717299) has been accredited in your favor.Your Personal Identification Number is 008. The ATM Card Value is ($5.7 Million United State Dollars). You are advice to contact our affiliate ATM UNIT CENTER with the information below.
The ATM you will use to withdraw all your total $5.7Million in any ATM SERVICE MACHINE in any part of the world, but the maximum you can withdraw in a day is USD$5000.00 ( Five Thousand United State Dollars)
You are therefore advice to contact the ATM CARD UNIT CENTRE DEPARTMENT.
Bellow are the contact detail for you to contact ATM UNIT CENTRE for immediate proceeding.
BANK OF AFRICA.
Contact Person: Dr.William Grant
E-mail: (atmcard75@hotmail.fr)
Here is the information they may need to send the ATM CARD to you.
FULL NAME:
DELIVERY ADDRESS:
TELEPHONE NUMBER:
COUNTRY:
OCCUPATION:
SEX:
AGE:
Forward the needed information to the ATM UNIT CENTER so that there will send you,
your ATM CARD.
Regards,
Robert Eze
ATM MASTER CARD
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Anti-fraud resources:
