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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: Kevin McAleenan <info@cwcec.com>
Reply-To: <jsmadden105@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 21 May 2019 14:51:19 -0700
Subject: INTERCEPTION NOTICE,,

Department of Homeland Security
Nebraska Avenue Complex, 3801 Nebraska Ave NW,
Washington, DC 20016, United States.
WEBSITE: www.dhs.gov/
 
Attn: To Email Owner
 
I am Kevin McAleenan, the current acting secretary of the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. We intercepted a package from a diplomat at JFK airport, New York. The package was scanned and was found to contain an ATM MASTERCARD valued at US$3.8 Million in your name and also some relevant backup document showing your information as the reciever. Investigations carried out on the diplomat confirms he was assigned to deliver the package to your address as overdue contract payment owed to you by the Nigerian Government through a certified legal and security company in the United Kingdom, so until verifications is complete and it is ascertained that this fund is duly signed out for the purpose of which it was released, he will remain in our custody for the security of the package and also that of every citizen of the United States which remains our primary duty.
 
Meanwhile, we have cross checked all legal documents backing up the package but discovered it lacked an important document which must accompany the package from Nigeria for submission to the IRS/IRC before it is termed legal, therefore your package alongside the diplomat will remain under our watch until the document is obtained and tendered, at this point we have no other choice but to put a hold on your ATM CARD delivery.
 
According to Internal Revenue Services Code (IRSC) in Title 26 also contain reporting requirement on a Form 8300, Report of Cash Payment Over $10,000 Received in a Trade or Business, money laundering activity may violate 18 USC §1956, 18 USC 1957, 18 USC 1960, and provision of Title 31, and 26 USC 6050I of the United States Code (USC) which discusses only money laundering and currency violation under the jurisdiction of IRS. Your package is lacking Proof of Ownership Certificate, you are to reply back immediately for direction on how to procure the certificate so the diplomat can proceed further in making sure his primary assignement is completed and also to enable us carry out our duty the best way we can. Kindly contact the Field Director, New York Regulatory Audit Office with the below information to aid our purpose of ascertaining your position as the true beneficiary of the ATM CARD.
 
CONTACT NAME:     Mr James T. Madden
CONTACT EMAIL:    jsmadden105@gmail.com
CONTACT TEL:        (714) 646-7501
 
PROVIDE INFORMATION,
 
FULL NAMES,
HOME/RECIEVER'S ADDRESS,
DIRECT CELL PHONE/TEL,
OCCUPATION,
AGE,
SEX,
 
However, in line with the Internal Revenue Services Code and to maintain a clean record, you are to reply back to this email or the above information within 72hours or risk loosing your ATM CARD due to incomplete documentation or prosecuted in court for money laundering, if the prior obligation is not met. Also it is advised that you desist from further contact with any bank(s), Agencies or person(s) in Africa, United kingdom or any part of the world regarding your ATM Card delivery already put on hold by this Commission here in the United States to avoid being ripped off.
 
This email was sent only to the intended recipient and not for public use, if it gets to you wrongly, kindly decline and pay no attention to it.
 
Yours In Service,
Mr. Kevin McAleenan
Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

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