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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: "Inter Switch" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <intersw2@rocketmail.com>
Date: Mon, 1 Aug 2011 08:11:14 -0400
Subject: FROM: INTER SWITCH (ATM CARD)

FROM: INTER SWITCH
FUND PAYMENT CENTRE
ATM CASH CARD DEPARTMENT


The NIGERIA DEBIT CARD otherwise known as the InterSwitch debit card or the ATM card. These cards are debit cards issued by all the banks on the InterSwitch network. These debit cards are identified by the InterSwitch logo card.
The Nigeria Debit cards are payment cards that can be used to withdraw cash from Automated Teller machines (ATMs) in any part of the world, make purchases at restaurants, supermarket, hotels and related merchant locations through point of sales terminals. You can also use this same debit cards on InterSwitch enabled websites for online shopping.
The amount you can spend is limited by the amount in your bank account. You also do not need to go to a bank first to load money on your card.
The Nigeria Debit card is currently issued by 23 out of the 24 banks in Nigeria. These banks have also branded the cards in their specific look and feel.
Although the faces (look & feel) of the debit card may differ from bank to bank, the unifying factor is the fact that all the cards can be used on the InterSwitch network and on ALL terminals irrespective of the bank that deployed (owns) the terminal.

But due to the level of fraud/scam around the world and based on the instructions from the Nigerian government, World Bank and International Monitory Fund (IMF) all the Banks in Nigeria has been restricted from using ATM for any international payment on behalf of the Nigerian government parasitatal or the Nigerian Apex Bank (CBN) The Inter Switch has been given this assignment to carry out all the international payment to avoid tarnishing the image of Inter Switch and the entire Nigeria at large.

Based on this we write to inform you that we have been delegated to honor your payment of US$10.5Million (Ten Million Five Hundred thousand Dollars) for contract/inheritance which has been laying pending under central bank of Nigeria roof for past years, we are going to carry out this assignment through one of the banks here in Nigerian we need your identification to honor this payment. (1)Your passport photograph, (2) Your full names, (3) the name of your next of kin. As soon as we receive this from you we will not hesitate to honor your payment.

Mobile Phone Banking.
MobilePAY is the latest in InterSwitch’s suite of solutions that facilitates mobile banking and financial transactions that hitherto will require you visiting a banking hall. It is new; it is just too good and easy! With MobilePAY, InterSwitch welcomes you to a whole new world of banking convenience using the closest and most faithful electronic companion ever: your GSM phone.
InterSwitch MobilePAY is a flexible channel for secure bill payments, remote banking and electronic buying and selling. It also minimizes or eliminates your usage of cheques, since you can easily transfer funds anytime to your beneficiary’s account. With MobilePAY, the GSM phone talks directly to your bank account.
Enjoy the convenience; conduct your business on the fly, in the middle of night, etc. As long you as you can make use of your phone, you could put it to more economic use in checking your bank account in any part of the world, paying your bills and so on. And what about your electricity bills? Settle all that quickly while you are far away from home on a safari, in the village, right in your cosy hotel room, in the middle of a party, or from the boardroom anytime, anywhere.
.

Thank you for your understanding

Yours Faithfully
Mrs. Lillian Ekwru
Inter Switch Nigeria

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