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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: "Charles" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <johncharless1@yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, 22 Oct 2013 12:52:39 -0300
Subject: YOUR ATM CARD IS READY

ATM CARD
 
Dear Sir,
 
 
Sequel to this effect, Your ATM DEBIT CARD has been Successfully Loaded with a part payment of your Inheritance/Contract/Lottery Winning Funds Valued at the sum of $2.5M USD ( Two Million, Five Hundred United StatesDollars),
 
However an Instruction was passed over to this office from the office of the chairman African Union on financial matters that the funds which has been loaded into your ATM DEBIT CARD should not be tampered with by any governmental official since it has been approved by the Federal Bureau of Investigation Department of the United States that the exact funds Must be Delivered to your designated address via the FedEx Courier Service
    without any deduction made on it.
 
The FBI and the African union have agreed to have the card delivered to you through no other mince than FedEx and the instruction for the delivery is stated below as you are advised to read carefully.
 
 
 
    (UPS DELIVERY)
 
 
 
    Approved Mailing cost $75.00
 
 
    Insurance by IRS $ 0
 
 
    Card procssing fee $ 0
 
 
    TOTAL $75.00
 
Be informed that your ATM DEBIT Card is Already Activated and ready for delivery to your Designated home address but the only delay is the cost that is associated to the delivery by (UPS) which you are expected to send via western union/Money Gram money transfer today to our distinguished accounting officer as the information is stated below.
 
 
    Do reconfirm urgently the following information so that we can serve you better:
 
 
 
    1.Your full name as you wish to appear on the ATM Card
 
 
    2. Present contact Address
 
 
    3. Day time and mobile telephone numbers
 
 
On the receipt of the USD$75.00 Dollars delivery cost will enable Your ATM DEBIT CARD be sent to you via (UPS) courier service with the Tracking/Confirmation Numbers sent to you via E-mail so that you can monitor the arrival of the card to your designated home address.
 
Joh Charles
 
 

Anti-fraud resources: