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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: James Knight <igsuperonline@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: James Knight <officialnotice85@yahoo.fr>
Date: Wed, 14 Jan 2015 15:50:37 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: YOUR ATM MASTER CARD IS READY ON OUR COSTUDY TO BE MAIL TO YOU


 U.S. Embassy Cotonou, Benin - Home
AMERICAN EMBASSY IN COTONOU, BENIN
Rue Caporal Bernard Anani BP 2012
Cotonou, Benin Republic.
Email-;officialnotice85@yahoo.fr
 
Greetings! Happy New Year to you,
This is to notify you that your ATM master card valued $1,200,000.00
USD are on our custody today for safe keeping and now waiting for your
confirmation before the final delivery will be commencing to your
registered address. We are now waiting for you to contact our office
through e-mail for confirmation before delivery to our nearest embassy
in your

Your ATM master card supposed to be shipped through Courier Service
Company Benin and was delayed due to Courier license number of the
ATM master Card. We have had meeting with Board of Directors this
morning and was finalized to deliver at your address through our
correspondent Embassy in your Country pending your immediate response
with the requirement, by sending the sum of $85 across our office
here in Benin to enable us procure the license number and complete
the delivery of your ATM master card to your address as registered.

Furthermore, be advice to reconfirm the below information as your
current and direct contact upon contacting us to avoid wrong delivery.
1. YOUR FULL NAME:___________
2. YOUR ADDRESS: _____________
3. TELEPHONE NUMBER: _________
4. OCCUPATION: _______________
5. YOUR COUNTRY._____________
Once you notify us with above details,your ATM master card will be send
to our correspondent Embassy in your state and will be deliver to your
address. Moreover,you are expected to send the $85 direct to registration
officer through Western Union to help expedite the process and send your
ATM master card for delivery at your address.

We shall forward the payment instruction once we hear from you to send
it by western Union or money gram transfer to procuring of your ATM
license number and send for delivery at your address. NOTICE: Goods
that stay unclaimed for a Week(7days) will be return to the State
Government white house as prohibited property and will be confiscated.
 
Treat this as matter of urgency.
Sincerely Yours,
Ambassador
James Knight
Email(officialnotice85@yahoo.fr)

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