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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.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "MRS. JANES IWUALA" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <acb_atmcard56@live.com>
Date: Tue, 11 May 2010 23:12:17 -0700
Subject: ATM CARD IS READY

OUR REF: FRN/ATM/901
YOUR REF: CLAIMS/ATM/901
 
ATTENTION HONORABLE BENEFICIARY
 
THIS IS TO OFFICIALLY INFORM YOU THAT (ATM CARD NUMBER) HAS BEEN ACCREDITED IN YOUR FAVOR.
 
YOUR PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION NUMBER IS 901.
 
THE ATM CARD VALUE IS 10.5MILLION USD.
 
YOU ARE ADVISED TO CONTACT:
DR. BENSON IWU
DIRECTOR, ATM PAYMENT DEPARTMENT
AFRICAN CONTINENTAL BANK PLC
EMAIL: acb_atmcard56@live.com
 
 
WITH THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION:
 
FULL NAME:
DELIVERY ADDRESS:
PHONE NUMBER:
COUNTRY:
OCCUPATION:
SEX:
AGE:
 
REGARDS,
 
MRS. JANES IWUALA
SPECIAL ADVISER TO THE PRESIDENT
FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA

Anti-fraud resources: