joewein.net   joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days
  jwSpamSpy

Home
About Us
Spam
419/Nigeria
Fraud
Contact

"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: "Rev John Hobson" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <john_hobson@live.com>
Date: Sun, 24 Jan 2010 17:01:31 -0800
Subject: YOUR VISA MASTER ATM CARD IS RAEDY REPLY NOW:

YOUR ATM VISA & MASTER CARD IS READY
OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR OF OPERATION
INTERNATIONAL CREDIT SETTLEMENT,
ATM PAYMENT DEPARTMENT (C.B.N)
Email :atmcardpaytcenter@hotmail.com
Attn: Beneficiary,
We hereby officially notifying you about the present arrangement to pay you, your over due contract/inheritance fund through (Master ATM Card) This arrangement was initiated/constituted by the World Bank and Paris Club, due to fraudulent activities going on within the African Region. The World Bank and Paris Club introduced this payment arrangement as to enable our contractors/inheritance beneficiary to receive their fund Without any interfference.the Master ATM Card was contracted and powered by GOLD CARD WORLD WIDE.
Reconfirm the following information to us for Security reason.
1) YOUR FULL NAME.
2) YOUR FULMAILING ADDRESS.
3) YOUR TELEPHONE NUMBER.
4) YOUR OCCUPATION .
5) YOUR AGE
Upon the receipt of this mail we are going to load your fund into the
Master ATM Card and send a scan copy of the card to you before we will Proceed to dispatch the card directly to your nominated home address so you absolutely have nothing to worry about all we need is your Prompt
Response and Co-operation by Gods Grace we will have a successful
Transaction.
We are waiting for your immediate response.
CONGRATULATIONS IN ADVANCE.
BEST REGARDS,
Rev  JOHN HOBSON
DIRECTOR, INTERNATIONAL REMITTANCE
Contact Me Via Email :john_hobson@live.com

Anti-fraud resources: