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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: "Dr. Georeg Grant" <qgundy@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: atmunit68@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Tue, 21 Dec 2010 03:09:21 -0800 (PST)
Subject: YOUR ATM MASTER CARD


Attention: My Dear,  
 
Due to your effort, sincerity, courage and trust worthiness you showed at the course of your transaction with some government and claimed government officials. And based on the outcome of the last meeting held with the Benin Government and the officials of the United Nation Organization, UNO and International Monitoring Fund, IMF, we have been instructed to transfer your funds through ATM MASTER CARD,
 
This money has been made available which will be cashed in an Automated Taller Machine and would be cashed through issuance of Inters witch ATM CARD system. We have authorized the bank, which was nominated to carry out the issuance of your ATM Card never to have any delay in shipping the ATM Card to you.

I wish to use this medium to inform you that your Cashier Check of US$2.600, 000.00 (Two Million Six Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) from BANK OF AFRICA have been RELEASED and APPROVED for onward transfer to you via an ATM CARD which you will use to withdraw all the USD$2.6 Million USD in any ATM SERVICE MACHINE in any part of the world, but the maximum you can withdraw in a day is USD$5000.00 (Five Thousand United State
Dollars)
 
You are therefore advice to contact the Bank of Africa, ATM MASTER CARD DEPARTMENT.
 
BANK OF AFRICA.
Contact Person: Mr. Patrick Lawrence
E-mail: atmunit68@yahoo.com.hk
Phone: +229-9907 4063
 
Tell Mr. Patrick Lawrence, that you received a message from the General Manager, Finance Intelligent Unit Dr. George Grant.
 
Instructing him to send you the ATM CARD and PIN NUMBER which you will use to withdraw your US$2.6 Million USD. in any ATM SERVICE MACHINE in any part of the world also send him your direct phone number and contact address where you want him to send the ATM CARD and PIN NUMBER to you.
 
Finally, remember that I have forwarded instruction to the Executive Director of the bank on your behalf to look into your file as soon as you contact them without delay.
 
We are very sorry for the plight you have gone through in the past. Thanks for adhering to this instruction and once again accept our congratulations.
 
Best Regards,
Dr. Georeg Grant



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