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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:
- This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "atm payment department" (this phrase is often used in the ATM card payment scam)
- "million us dollars" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: ATM PAYMENT DEPARTMENT CENTRE <johnsonmanio739@yahoo.pt>
Reply-To: ATM PAYMENT DEPARTMENT CENTRE <atmoceaniccard@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 15 Jan 2015 22:55:09 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: COMPLIMENTS OF THE SEASON!
 DEAR FRIEND,
How are you today together with your family i hope every body is fine, you did not come down to my country here BeninRepublic to pick your money ($10.8million us dollars) in a Bank draft as we fixed and i did not heard from you since that time as we arranged then I went and deposited the Bank Draft with THE OCEANIC BANK PLC OF BENIN Â REPUBLIC here in Benin Republic because I travelled to saudi arabia for medical check up i will not be back till next twomonth ending.
I have arranged with the Bank to make your payment to you with their new ATM MASTER CARD  which you can use to withdraw your money in any ATM machine around the globe at the maximium rate  of $10.000.00 us dollars per day. You have to contact the OCEANIC BANK PLC OF BENIN REPUBLIC with your full contact informations such asfollows.
YOUR FULL NAME...............YOUR HOME ADDRESS.............YOUR COUNTRY........................YOUR PHONE NUMBER..............A COPY OF YOUR PICTURE...............
However, kindly contact the below person who is in position to release your ATM MASTER CARD.
REV Â DR. KENNY JOE,ATM PAYMENT DEPARTMENT OCEANIC BANK PLC OF BENIN REPUBLIC.EMAIL: atmoceaniccard@gmail.comTelephone; (00229) 96274073
I have paid for the delivery, stamp and insurance charges.The only Money that your are going to pay to them is only ($250.00 us Dollars) which they will use to reactivate your ATM MASTER CARD before sending it to you. Try to contact them as soon as possible to enable themquicken the processing of your ATM CARD .
Do Let me know as soon as you receive your ATM CARD.ThanksMR. PATRICK PROMISE
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