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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:
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "atmcard0011@outlook.com" (this email address looks like addresses used in "ATM SWIFT card" scams)
- "atmcard0011@outlook.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
Fraud email example:
From: Miss Nicinha MIGUEL <iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii.@quartz.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: Miss Nicinha MIGUEL <atmcard0011@outlook.com>
Date: Thu, 17 Mar 2016 11:11:00 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Kind Attention Dear,
Kind Attention Dear,
This is to officially bring to your notice that your approved re-fund compensation inheritance fund worth the total sum of $3,750 Million USD after being credited in your name into ATM Visa Card it has been approved for onward delivery to your home address in your country by FedEx Express Courier Office COTONOU, Benin.
Note that your ATM Visa Card has yesterday been deposited with FedEx Express Courier COTONOU, Benin for the immediate delivery and it’s currently at their Security Department waiting for you to contact them and re-confirm your home address to avoid wrong delivery before your ATM Card will be dispatched for onward delivery as it was signed and agreed.
Contact them immediately with your full info such as your current Home address:../ Full Name:…/ Direct telephone Number and A copy of your ID Card also bear in mind that you are to pay for their Officially Safe Keeping fee of your ATM Card before your ATM Card parcel will be dispatched to your home address from their as it was signed and agreed with the FedEx Office COTONOU, Benin.
Contact Person: Mr. Eric Jack
E-mail: atmcard0011@outlook.com
Contact Tel: +229-9938-7978
I await your kind email reply
Yours sincerely
Miss Nicinha MIGUEL
West Africa Union Re-fund
Compensation Award Committee
Funding Bank Central Bank Nigeria
Paying Bank UBA Bank COTONOU Benin
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Anti-fraud resources:
