| 
 
 | 
joewein.de LLC 
fighting spam and scams on the Internet 
 | 
 | 
"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:
 -  This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.  
 -  The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
 -  "atmswift.operationn@outlook.com" (this email address looks like addresses used in "ATM SWIFT card" scams)
 
 -  "atmswift.operationn@outlook.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
 
  -  This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams. 
  -  This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office. 
 
Fraud email example:
From: "BARR.LAWALMARABA" <o.data@yahoo.fr> (may be fake) 
Reply-To: atmswift.operationn@outlook.com 
Date: Wed, 29 Jul 2015 00:09:51 +0800 (CST) 
Subject: YOUR ATM  MASTERCARD PAYMENT. 
 
 
 
 
Compliments of the day. 
 
 
This is to officially inform you that we have sent you several E-mails 
without response and we believe that our previous emails did not get to 
you therefore we write you again. We are contacting you concerning the 
release of your inheritance fund / Draft /Cheque /ATM Card which have been 
delayed for transfer by some officials who claim to be in position of your 
fund thereby extorting money from you in one way or the other.Your Fund 
has finally been approved for transfer by the West Africa Fund  Release 
and Monitoring Unit. Your fund will be transferred to you via ATM 
MasterCard which is cash-able in any ATM machine or Bank anywhere in the 
world. 
 
We hereby wish to inform you that the ATM card worth of US$2.5m has been 
credited in your favour as the first part payment of your inheritance fund 
which has been delayed by these officers who claim to be in position of 
your fund.Therefore you are warned to stop any further communication with 
anybody concerning your inheritance fund.Your fund will be released via 
MasterCard ATM in respect to the rule of law which we represent.You have 
to re-confirm the requested information below for security reasons. The 
only money you are obliged to pay is the delivery charges only.Contact the 
UBA ATM MasterCard verification officer in charge of the delivery: 
 
 
Contact Name: Mr.Stephen Bruce 
Contact E-mail: atmswift.operationn@outlook.com 
Telephone :+2348181912095 
 
Send them the following information of yours for the conclusion of your 
payment via ATM MasterCard: 
 
Full Name:__________ 
Delivery Address:____ 
Country:_______ 
Occupation:_____ 
Phone Number:____ 
Age:______ 
sex:______ 
 
 
Best Regards, 
Mr.Lawal Maraba. 
 
 | 
Anti-fraud resources: