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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: "YOUR ATM CARD" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mrszimmermann947@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 17 Sep 2013 10:18:59 -0700
Subject: YOUR ATM CARD

U.S. Department of State
Bureau of Consular Affairs
Washington , DC 20520.
 
 
ATTN: FUND BENEFICIARY
 
 
Good day to you, This is to make you understand that this agency has taken a different dimension in trying to find a suitable method on how to deliver your ATM CARD which is valued at the sum of $3,750,000.00 USD to your address in which the package is right now in California, USA and has been there since FedEx Courier Company stated that the package is now available for Clearance which you can call the agent VIA telephone line: 6465132606 and his name is CLIFFORD JAMES.
 
So you would now easily remit the over-charged fees of $125 USD so that the Courier Company could correct your delivery address and then get the package delivered to your address/country immediately.
 
The Government has mandated that this package must be delivered to your address within 1 week from now or rather be returned back to Nigeria as unclaimed property as the package has been with FedEx since last year.
 
If you are still interested in receiving your ATM CARD then you will be forwarding to us your personal contact number and your correct delivery address so that it could be changed immediately and then to enable FedEx Courier Company make the delivery to you.
 
Below is the details of your package so that you can personally track it to see the status and since when it was shipped.
 
FEDEX WEBSITE : www.fedex.com
TRACKING NUMBER: 899575417896
 
So please do go to the FedEx website and track your package to see the current status and do understand that we did inform the Courier Company to hold on a little while to enable you send the required fees so that the delivery could be made to your address.
 
Do send the payment to the FedEx account officer incharged of over-sight duties and your shipment will be ready for delivery as soon as the required fees of $125 USD has been received.
 
RECEIVER NAME: Madu James
LOCATION: Nigeria
TEXT QUESTION: IN GOD
ANSWER: WE TRUST
AMOUNT: $125 USD
 
Do send the payment details to us as soon as you send the fees and the reason why you need to hasten up with the fees is because of the time schedule to enable the agent get this package delivered to you without any further delay.
 
THIS IS THE FINAL STEP NEEDED TO GET YOUR PACKAGE DELIVERED TO YOUR ADDRESS AND DON'T FORGET THAT YOU DON'T HAVE MUCH TIME TO GET THIS PENDING MATTER CONCLUDED OR STAND A CHANCE OF LOSING THE ENTIRE PACKAGE.
 
Regards
Mrs MaryAnne Zimmermann
Secretary
U.S. Department of State
Bureau of Consular Affairs

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