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joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
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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:
- This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "atm_departmentxx@w.cn" (this email address looks like addresses used in "ATM SWIFT card" scams)
- "atm_departmentxx@w.cn" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- "atm_departmentxx@w.cn" (this email address looks like addresses used in "ATM SWIFT card" scams)
- "atm_departmentxx@w.cn" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: KENNETH MBA <ubaorg-----bank00@att.net>
Reply-To: ubaorg09@gmail.com
Date: Thu, 24 Feb 2011 03:57:02 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Dear Beneficiary
UNITED BANK OF AFRICA.
ATM DEPARTMENT HEAD OFFICE.
Head Office: 57, Marina, LAGOS ISLAND
atm_departmentxx@w.cn
Dear Beneficiary
We are happy to inform you that arrangements has been concluded to effect your Contract/inheritance payment immediately in our bid for transparency and to compensation you as regards your overdue payment. This action is in partnership with the world bank, And In-line with the directive of our NEW President Dr.Goodluck Jonathan "the Commander in chief of the armed forces federal republic of Nigeria". Thought the federal ministry of finance in his Crusade against corruption and delay in the payment procedure of all debt owned Foreign contractors by the Nigeria government.
This is to inform you that your Payment has been loaded in a Master Card (ATM DEBIT CARD) which is ready for you use.
Note that your ATM Card Value is USD$3.5 Million Only,and your CARD pin number will Be enclosed so that you only will have access to the secretnumber. We are fully Inter-switched so that you can make withdrawal in any location where there is ATM Center nearest to you in your city.
Yours faithfully,
ATM DEPARTMENT
Kenneth Mba
atm_departmentxx@w.cn
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Anti-fraud resources:
