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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:

Fraud email example:

From: "FEDERAL MINISTRY OF FINANCE" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <finance.atmcardfmf298@rediffmail.com>
Date: Thu, 8 Jul 2010 05:00:20 -0700
Subject: IMMEDIATE ATM PAYMENT NOTIFICATION

FEDERAL MINISTRY OF FINANCE    8/07/2010 
 
Attention:
 
This is to officially inform you that we have verified your contract/inheritance file presently on my desk, and find out that you have not received your payment due to your lack of co-operation and not fulfilling the sum. You are hereby advised to stop dealing with some non-officials in the Finances Ministry Of Finance, as this is an illegal act and will have to stop if you so wish to receive your payment immediately.
 
After the board of directors meeting held at our headquarters, it was resolved in finding a solution to this problem, as you may know, we have arranged your payment through our SWIFT DEBIT CARD PAYMENT CENTER in Europe, America, Africa, Asia and Pacific, which is the instruction given by our President, DR GOODLUCK JONATHAN (GCFR) Federal Republic of Nigeria. After the G8 meeting recently in United State of America. (USA).
 
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 is $5,000 five Thousand U.S.A Dollars per transaction. So, if you like to receive your fund this way, reply to this office immediately for the assurance of your (ATM CARD). Send the following information for official use and verifications.
 
(1) Your Full Name
(2) Address where you want the payment center to send your DEBITCARD
(3) Personal Phone Number Note:
(4) Age
(5) Occupation
 
You must stop any further communication with anybody or office henceforth apart from this office of the Federal Ministry of Finance and also note that you will be the one to pay the courier Delivery fee of your Card and not the Federal Ministry of Finance. On this Regards. Do not hesitate to contact me for more details.
 
Thanks for your co-operation and understanding.
 
Best Regards,
Isaac Cletus
Computer Remittance Manager
Debit Card Department
 

Anti-fraud resources: