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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: "Mr. Eric .J Havens" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <citibankplc@hotmail.ru>
Date: Tue, 24 Jun 2014 02:42:26 -0700
Subject: Congratulation Beneficiary your ATM CARD has be Approved.

From the Desk of:  Mr. Eric .J Havens
Head of Foreign Operations
Citibank NIG.
Our Ref: EU/NIG/GE-SW/(Your Ref: CITIBANK/NIGERIA/CTB CODE: CT2014)(
GNC/3480/02/2014-ATM CARD APPROVED)
Attn:
 
We have been writing and know response, This is to congratulate you
for scaling through the hurdles of screening by the board of directors
of this payment task force. Your payment file was approved and the
instruction was given us to release your fund and activate your ATM
card for use.
 
The first batch of your card which contains ($10.5M) And it has been
activated and package for a quick delivery of it to your destination
address via Badri Group Currier company, because we have signed a contract
with them which should expired by Sept 26th of this year.
 
And the Good news we have for you is to let you know that every
arrangement regarding all the documentation of your approve ATM CARD
dispatch is ready in this office. And the only thing you have to do is
to offset the insurance fee of your card which is $350 U.S. DOLLARS by
Badri Group Delivering Company to avoid any hitches from any agency that
will stop your delivery parcel from not getting to your country
destination.
 
However, you have only 6 days to send this $350 U.S. DOLLARS for the
insurance fee of your card, if we don't hear from you with the payment
information; the Federal Government will cancel the card. Below is the
paying information to make the insurance fee through western union
money transfer or money gram.
 
Receivers Name: nathaniel onyewuche onyekachi
Address: Lagos Nigeria
Text Question: In God we
Text Answer: Trust
Amount: $350
 
We also need your full name and address including your telephone
number for easy communication with you on the delivery because we will
not beheld responsible for a wrong delivery. so I wait to hear from
you with the payment info to enable us proceed with the delivering of
your card. make the payment for and update or email me ASAP.
 
Thank you
Mr. Eric J.H(Dir.)
PAYMENT DEPARTMENT

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