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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.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Steve Ben" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <vizatcard@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 21 Nov 2013 12:08:00 +0100
Subject: Your ATM Payment Is Ready,

OFFICE OF DIRECTOR,ATM DEBIT CARD'
SKYE BANK NIGERIA (NIGERIA SUB-DIVISION )
+2348083287056
 
HOW ARE YOU DOING?
 
WE HAVE RECEIVED THE EXPRESS MANDATE AND INSTRUCTIONS, UNDER THE UNITED NATIONS SCAM VICTIMS REHABILITATION SCHEME, AFTER A SERIOUS MEETING WITH THE TOP GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS SINCE LAST WEEK REGARDING YOUR CONTRACT/WINING LOTTERY/INHERITANCE FUND IT WAS CONCLUDED THAT YOU ARE TO BE PAID THE SUM OF $5.2 MILLION UNITED STATE DOLLARS ONLY.
 
WE ALSO INFORM YOU THAT YOUR PAYMENT HAS BEEN PROGRAMMED THROUGH ATM VISA CARD ON YOUR NAME, YOU CAN NOW MAKE WITHDRAWAL OF $5,000 DOLLARS EACH DAY UNTIL YOU REACH THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF $50,000 WHICH IS THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT PER DAY AS SOON AS YOUR ATM VISA CARD IS BEEN DELIVERED TO YOU.
 
HOWEVER, IT IS THE PLEASURE OF THIS OFFICE TO NOTIFY YOU THAT YOUR ATM VISA CARD NUMBER IS (4000 0807 0620 0002); IT HAS BEEN APPROVED AND UPGRADED IN YOUR FAVOR. NOTE THAT A MAXIMUM WITHDRAWAL VALUE PER DAY IS $50,000 USD, IT IS THE AMOUNT PERMITTED DAILY. AND WE ARE DULY INTER-SWITCHED WORLD WILD AND YOU CAN MAKE WITHDRAWAL IN ANY LOCATION OF THE ATM CENTER OF YOUR CHOICE/NEAREST TO YOU. THE ATM VISA CARD HAVE BEEN SECURELY SEALED AND PACKED FOR SECURITY REASONS WHICH MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR ANYONE TO VIEW IT UNTIL ITS BEEN DELIVERED RIGHT TO YOU.
 
FURTHERMORE, YOU ARE ADVISED TO QUICKLY RECONFIRM BACK TO US THE BELOW DETAILS TO ENABLE US CROSS CHECK WHAT WE HAVE IN OUR FILE BEFORE YOUR FINAL DELIVERY WILL BE MADE TO YOU.
 
YOUR FULL NAME................
YOUR ADDRESS..................
YOUR AGE/ OCCUPATION..........
TELEPHONE/FAX NUMBER..........
 
NOTE, ALL YOUR FUND LEGAL DOCUMENTS HAS BEEN RECEIVED TOGETHER WITH YOUR ATM CARD AND ONCE I HEAR FROM YOU I WILL PERSONAL SEND YOU A COPY OF YOUR ATM CARD FOR YOUR PERUSAL.
 
BEST REGARDS,
MR.STEVE BEN
DIRECTOR,ATM CARD DEBT.

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