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joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
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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:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "atm card department" (this phrase is often used in the ATM card payment scam)
- "card center will send you an atm card" (this phrase is often used in the ATM card payment scam)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs.Elizabeth Rita Tony X"<wr7157056@gmail.com>
Date:
Subject:
Attn:Dear Beneficiary
Hope this meets you in Good health?
I write to bring to your notice as a delegate from the United States Government Reimbursement committee on delayed payment under the strict supervision of the United Nations.This is to inform you that I have deposited your funds cheque with the JP Morgan Chase bank to process it into an ATM VISA CARD for you. All the arrangement of processing your total funds of USD$4.5M into ATM VISA CARD will be made as soon as you contact the ATM CARD Department, This card center will send you an ATM CARD which you will use to withdraw your money in any ATM machine in any part of the world at the maximum rate of $5,000.00 USD dollars (Five Thousand United State Dollars) per day.
Therefore do not hesitate to contact Chase bank and also re-confirm the following information as listed below
1. YOUR FULL NAME:
2. YOUR HOME ADDRESS:
3. YOUR COUNTRY:
4. YOUR DIRECT CELL NUMBER:
5. A COPY OF YOUR PICTURE:
6. AGE AND GENDER
7. OCCUPATION:
Forward the above information to: Mr. Stephen Westwood(Director of Customer care Division Chase bank .Email:redacted@domain.name)
The Bank has been mandated to issue out your payment and you have to stop any further communication with any other person(s) or office(s) to avoid any hitches in receiving your ATM Card.
Note that because of impostors, The Bank also issued you their code of conduct, which is (0520) so you have to indicate this code when contacting the ATM CARD center by using it as your subject.
Thanks in anticipation of your co-operation
Yours Faithfully
Mrs.Rita Tony
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Anti-fraud resources:
