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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: "FBI DIVISION" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <interswitch.dept@sify.com>
Date: Wed, 11 Aug 2010 15:21:10 -0700
Subject: FBI NOTIFICATION

FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION FBI.WASHINGTON DC.
WASHINGTON D.C ROOM, 7367
J.EDGAR HOOVER FBI BUILDING
935 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE,
NW WASHINGTON, DC 20535, 0001.
 
FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION SEEKING TO WIRETAP THE INTERNET
We sincerely apologize for sending you this sensitive information via e-mail instead of a certified mail, phone call or a  face-to-face conversation, it is due to the urgency and importance of the security information involved. In the quest to cushion the effect of the global financial crisis, American government through the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Washington, DC and the Internet Crime Complaint Center (ic3) has signed an agreement with Nigeria & EFCC for an immediate release of all overdue funds presently logged in their treasury and ensure it is disbursed to the rightful beneficiaries in any part of the world. If you the beneficiary would adhere to this notification it will help stabilize the various economies of the world and reduce the effect of this depressing recession.
Prior to this agreement our team of security experts has swung into action for transparency and accountability of this periodic project. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (Global Intelligence, Cyber Division) saddled with the responsibility of monitoring activities going on over the internet have discovered your name in the list of unpaid beneficiaries and it might interest you to know that we have conducted a comprehensive investigation on this discovery as stipulated on our protocol of operation and have confirmed that the funds was endorsed in your favor and it is 100% genuine and hitch free from all facets. You have the lawful right to contact the appropriate authority to claim your payment without further delay.
Under the Joint Regulatory Commission,we have appointed a sole fiduciary member of CBN that will handle the transfer of your funds through ATM CARD Payment. This card centre will send you an ATM CARD which you will use to withdraw your money in any ATM Machine located in your designation/any part of the world, the maximum amount to withdraw is three thousand dollars per day. Contact the below card payment centre for more details.
Contact person: Dr.Wilfred Bruce
Email: interswitch.dept@sify.com
Tel: +2347037250822
Also send the below information to the above address to enable them start processing your ATM CARD.
1. Your full name
2. Phone number & fax
3. Address where you want them to send the ATM CARD
4. Your Age & Current Occupation
5. Attach copy of your Identification.
This ATM CARD payment centre has been mandated to issue out USD7, 000,000.00 as part payment for your Contract/Inheritance/Lottery Winnings for this fiscal year 2010. Also for your information, you have to stop any further communication with any other person (s) / office (s) to avoid any hitches in receiving your payment. For oral discussion, call or email back as soon as you receive this important message for further direction and also update me with the developments from the above mentioned office.
Note that because of impostors,we hereby issued you our code of conduct which is (ATM-001) so you have to indicate this code when contacting the card centre by using it as your subject.
Thanks.
 
MR.PAUL VILLA
SEC.FBI CYBER DIVISION,
WASHINGTON DC.USA.

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