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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: "Dr.Mark Williams" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <alfredescoba@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 17 Dec 2017 06:56:27 +0530
Subject: PAYMENT ORDER VIA (ATM CARD.)

Attention!
 
This is to officially inform you that your ATM Card credited with the sum of  20.5 Million Dollars will be issued to your name as your beneficiary fund compensation being a scam victim as contained in the 2016/2017 Scam victims whose email address was recovered during the internet probing and during the course of investigation  of
Apprehended scammers.
 
Your email address being among, we are in no doubt believe that you have in one way or more been fleeced of your money or denied your rightful benefit by Internet Scam Syndicates .
 
It was on these very recommendation that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in conjunction with the United State Government after series of meeting held  with other international Anti-Crime bodies came up with a resolution to all West African countries to surrender all recovered fund/proceed from the sales of assets of convicted scammers under the Asset Forfeiture and Proceeds of Crime Act for the compensation of Scam Victims. to restore the Global Economy to the enviable standard of respectability.
 
You are kindly requested to contact Dr. Edward Martins, Director in charge of compensation payment at the  International Monetary Fund Settlement Unit UNITED KINGDOM with the below needed information on this email address: compensation unit.(alfredescoba@gmail.com )
 
1. Full Names:
2. Phone Number:
3. Mailing Address:
4. Age and Sex:
5. Occupation:
6. Country:
 
Your immediate compliance to this email is advised for the immediate processing and  delivery of the ATM Card to you before the end of our financial year as our offices are mandated to clear all outstanding compensation.
 
From International Monetary Fund.
 
Sincerely,
Dr.Mark Williams
       

Anti-fraud resources: