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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: "Lamido Sanusi." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <zarrywest@yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 27 Oct 2010 04:43:23 -0700
Subject: ATM Card Beneficiary,

 
OFFICE OF NEW APPIONTED EXECUTIVE
GOVERNOR CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA (CBN)
ZARIA STREET, GARKI 11, ABUJA NIGERIA
P.M.B 0187, GARKI, ABUJA .
 
ATM Card Beneficiary,
 
I wish to use this medium to inform you that your CONTRACT/INHERITANCE Part Payment of USD$2.3M (Two Million Three Hundred Thousand Dollars) from CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA have been RELEASED and APPROVED for onward transfer to you via an ATM CARD which you will use to withdraw all the USD$2.3M in any ATM SERVICE MACHINE in any part of the world, but the maximum you can withdraw in a day is USD$40,000.00 Only.
 
We have mandated Skye Bank Nigeria Plc, to send you the ATM CARD and PIN NUMBER which you will use to withdraw all your USD$2.3 Million Dollars in any ATM SERVICE MACHINE in any part of the world, but the maximum you can withdraw in a day is USD$40,000.00 Only.
 
However, we received an email now from one Dr George Jeffley, who told us that you send him to come and pick up your ATM CARD for you.
 
He has also submitted his account for us to transfer your funds to him. Dr George Jeffley account co-ordinate is as stated below:
Bank: Bank of America
1121 N 205th St, Shoreline, Wa 98133
Bank routing number: 167000024
Bank account number: 3619672201
Account Holders name Dr George Jeffley
 
We want to know if you are the one that send him,but if you are not the person that send him You are therefore advice to contact the Head of ATM CARD Department Contact Person:
DR.SCOTT WILLIAMS
E-mail: upgradeccts@w.cn
 
Tell dr Scott Williams that you received a message from office of the director of ATM CARD International Credt Card Settlement department Skye Bank Nigeria Plc,instructing him to send you the ATM CARD and PIN NUMBER which you will use to withdraw your USD$2.3Million Dollars in any ATM SERVICE MACHINE in any part of the world, also send him your,
 
1. FULL NAME 
2. FULL ADDRESS
3. PHONE AND FAX #(P.O BOX NOT ACCEPTABLE)
4. YOUR AGE, SEX AND CURRENT OCCUPATION.
  
Please do keep this only to your self for now until the bank transfer your fund into your bank account.
 
Yours faithfully.
Lamido Sanusi.
Executive Governor,
Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)

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