joewein.net   joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days
  jwSpamSpy

Home
About Us
Spam
419/Nigeria
Fraud
Contact

"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: "Mrs.Laura Jones" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <myatm_card@hotmail.com>
Date: Tue, 22 Nov 2011 14:25:15 +0100
Subject: UNITED NATION COMPENSATION UNIT, IN AFFILIATION WITH THE KOELNER BANK

ATTN:Sir/Madam,
 
How are you today?Hope all is well with you and family?,However you may not
understand why this mail came to you.
 
We have been having a meeting for the passed 7 months which ended 2 days ago
with the secretary to the UNITED NATIONS. This email is to all the people
that have been scammed in any part of the world.
 
The UNITED NATIONS have agreed to compensate them with the sum of
US$500,000.00
 
This includes every foreign contractors that may have not received their
contract sum,and people that have had an unfinished transaction or
international businesses that failed due to Government problems etc.
 
We found your name in our list and that is why we are contacting you,This
have been agreed upon and have been signed Therefore,we are happy to inform
you that an arrangement has perfectly been concluded to effect your payment
as soon as possible in our bid to be transparent.
 
However,it is our pleasure to inform you that your ATM Card Number; 5490
9957 6302 4525 has been approved and upgraded in your favor. Meanwhile,your
Secret Pin Number will be available as soon as you confirm to us the receipt
of your ATM CARD.
 
 
The ATM Card Value is $500,000.00 USD Only. You are advised that a maximum
withdrawal value of US$10,000.00 is permitted daily.
 
And we are duly inter-switched and you can make withdrawal in any location
of the ATM Center of your choice/nearest to you any where in the world.
 
We have also concluded delivery arrangement with our accredited courier
service Company to oversee the delivery of the ATM Card to you without any
further delay.
 
So you are hereby advice to forward to this office Director ATM SWIFT CARD
Department Therefore.You should send him your full Name and Telephone
number/your correct mailing address where you want him to send the ATM to
you.
 
Contact Dr. Mark Lewis immediately for your ATM SWIFT CARD:
Person to Contact: Dr.Mark Lewis
Email: myatm_card@hotmail.com
 
Thanks and God bless you and your family.
 
Hoping to hear from you as soon as you receive your ATM.
 
Making the world a better place
 
 
Regards,
 
Mrs.Laura Jones
 
 
Cc: To : Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon (UNITED NATIONS) website:
http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2003/ik344.doc

Anti-fraud resources: