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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: "FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <fbi.state.gov193@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 11 Dec 2013 00:00:57 +0200
Subject: OFFICIAL NOTICE

FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION (FBI)
HEADQUARTERS WASHINGTON, D.C.
J. EDGAR HOOVER BUILDING
935 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE,
NW WASHINGTON, D.C. 20535-0001
 
REF: US/28028/8A28/11
 
ATTENTION:
 
FBI OFFICIAL NOTICE: This e-mail is to officially inform you that it has come to our notice and we have thoroughly completed an investigation on an International Payment, with the help of our newly developed technology (International Monitoring Network System), your e-mail address was found in the Central Computer among the list of unpaid contractors, inheritance next of kin and lotto beneficiaries approved to receive a part-payment of $5,000,000.00 Five Million United States Dollars. According to record in the system your fund had been approved already for months yet the fund remain unpaid to you. This is because some corrupt officials have been using the interest accumulated from your fund every year to enrich themselves without your knowledge.
 
Meanwhile, We want to make sure that your funds is paid to you immediately via ATM Card which is the easiest and quickest method to receive your fund and also to secure and protect your fund from being diverted by fraudulent people or making more payments to those corrupt officials.
 
We have completed this investigation and you are hereby approved to receive the sum of $5,000,000.00 as we have verified the entire transaction to be Safe and 100% risk free.
 
Therefore, we want to inform you that an arrangement has perfectly been concluded to effect your payment as soon as possible. However, it is our pleasure to inform you that ATM Card Number; 7946 8678 0123 2210 has been approved and upgraded in your favor.
 
The ATM Card Value is $5,000,000.00 USD Only. You are advised that a maximum withdrawal limit of US$10,000.00 only is permitted daily. And you can make withdrawal in any location of the ATM Center of your choice/nearest to you any where in the world.
 
Due to the fact that the funds has been converted into an ATM Card you will be required to settle the following bills directly to the Agent in-charge of your payment whom is located in Abuja, Nigeria,. According to our discoveries, you will be required to pay for the following:
 
    * ATM Card Conversion Fee (Fee for converting the funds into an ATM Card)
    * (ATM Card Delivery Fee)
 
The total amount for everything is $135.00 (One Hundred and Thirty Five Dollars) only. We have tried our possible best to indicate that this $135.00 should be deducted from the funds but we found out that the funds have already been converted into an ATM Card and cannot be accessed by anyone except you "the legal beneficiary". Therefore, you will be required to pay the fee to the Agent in-charge of your payment via Western Union Money Transfer Or Money Gram so that he can deliver your ATM Card and approval documents to you as we have instructed him.
 
In order to proceed with your payment, you will be required to contact the agent in-charge of your payment (MR. DANIEL MARK) via e-mail. Kindly look below to find appropriate contact information:
 
CONTACT AGENT NAME: MR. DANIEL MARK
E-MAIL ADDRESS: dmark433@gmail.com
PHONE NUMBER #: +234 818 865 4399
 
You will be required to e-mail him with the following information:
 
FULL NAME:
PRESENT ADDRESS:
COUNTRY:
CITY:
ZIP CODE:
DIRECT CONTACT NUMBER:
 
You will also be required to request Western Union details on how to send the required $135.00 in order to immediately deliver your ATM Card, and also include the following Fund Reference Identification: EA2948-910.
 
This letter will serve as proof that the Federal Bureau Of Investigation is authorizing you to pay the required $135.00 ONLY to AGENT DANIEL MARK via information in which he shall send to you.
 
NOTE: In order to ensure rapid response, contact AGENT DANIEL MARK as soon as possible providing the required information needed from you above.
 
Congratulations!!!
 
NSB Seal
 
Robert S. Mueller, III
Public Affairs Director - FBI.
FBI Headquarters Washington D.C.
J. Edgar Hoover Building
935 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20535-0001

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