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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: "ambassadorterencemcculley@hotmail.com" <ambassadorterencemcculley@hotmail.com>
Date: Mon, 29 Oct 2012 16:12:44 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: AMBASSADOR TERENCE P. MCCULLEY. RESPONSE URGENTLY!!











UNITED STATES OF AMERICA EMBASSY AREA OFFICE.
11, VICTORIA ISLAND ZONE 111,MARINA,
LAGOS, NIGERIA
DATE: 10/29/2012


























 
DEAR  BENEFICIARY,,


AS IT MAY INTEREST YOU TO KNOW, I AM AMBASSADOR TERENCE MCCULLEY. THE UNITED STATE OF AMERICA AMBASSADOR TO NIGERIA. THERE IS A REPORT REACHING MY DESK FROM THE OFFICE OF THE NIGERIA MINISTRY OF FINANCE THAT YOUR NAME WAS FOUND AMONG THE LIST OF SCAM VICTIMS WHICH AS PER INVESTIGATION/INQUIRIES MADE SO FAR BY THE SECURITY AUTHORITIES HERE IN NIGERIA.

TO THIS END, A COMPENSATORY AMOUNT OF $1.2 M HAD BEEN EAR-MARKED BY THE NIGERIA GOVERNMENT ON YOUR BEHALF AND IS NOW CONVERTED INTO ATM MASTER CARD. AND BECAUSE I SHALL BE COMING OVER TO YOUR COUNTRY THIS FRIDAY FOR A VERY CRUCIAL MEETING WITH YOUR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, I HAVE DECIDED TO COME ALONG WITH YOUR ATM PACKAGE FOR FINAL DELIVERY TO YOUR DOOR STEP. THIS TIME, I SHALL NOT GO THROUGH CUSTOMS BECAUSE AS THE U.S AMBASSADOR TO NIGERIA, I AM AN AGENT OF THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT AND HAVE THE VETO POWER TO GO THROUGH CUSTOMS WITHOUT FURTHER INTERROGATION/INSPECTION. AND ONCE AM THROUGH WITH THE MEETING, I SHALL THEN PROCEED TO YOUR ADDRESS RIGHT THERE IN YOUR COUNTRY FOR THE FINAL DELIVERY OF YOUR PACKAGE TO YOU.

(AND NOTE THAT YOU MUST RE-CONFIRM TO ME YOUR CORRECT MAILING ADDRESS AND OTHER VITAL INFO TO AVOID WRONG DELIVERY)
 
I DISCOVERED THAT YOU HAVE REALLY PAID SO MUCH MONEY IN THE PAST BUT TO A WRONG CHANNEL HENCE YOUR BEING UNABLE TO RECEIVE YOUR ATM MASTER CARD TILL DATE.  THIS PROMPTED  ME TO TAKE URGENT STEP THIS TIME AROUND TO ENSURE THIS MATTER IS RESOLVED FINALLY.  YOU ARE A VERY LUCKY PERSON AS THIS ISSUE HAD GOTTEN TO MY DESK WHICH IS THE ONLY RIGHT CHANNEL BECAUSE THERE IS NO ONE THAT WILL STOP THIS MOTIVE SO LONG AS AM CONCERN ONLY IF YOU CAN FOLLOW MY ADVICE AND BE HAPPY INDEED!! NOTE THAT  YOUR ATM MASTER CARD VALUED AT ($1.2M USD) MUST BE REGISTERED AS AN AMBASSADORIAL PACKAGE FOR ME TO DEFEAT ALL ODDS.

 
FOR YOUR INFORMATION I HAVE ALREADY MADE MY FLIGHT SCHEDULES AND WAITING ON YOUR URGENT RESPONSE AS REGARDS THE REGISTRATION OF THIS VALUABLE ATM MASTER CARD ALREADY APPROVED ON YOUR NAME JUST AS I HAD EARLIER EMPHASIZED. OPEN AND VIEW THE ATTACHED SCAN COPY OF MY STAFF ID BUT MUST BE KEPT HIGHLY CONFIDENTIAL TO AVOID IDENTIFICATION THEFT.

 
I AWAIT YOUR URGENT RESPONSE TO ENABLE ME KNOW MY SCHEDULE.

REGARDS,
 
AMBASSADOR TERENCE MCCULLEY.
UNITED STATE OF AMERICA AMBASSADOR TO NIGERIA

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