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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: "fbi" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <atmcard@workmail.co.za>
Date: Thu, 13 Dec 2018 22:15:44 -0800
Subject: payment


FBI Headquarters in Washington, D.C.
Federal Bureau of Investigation
601 4th Street NW
Washington, DC 20535
(202) 278-2000
https://www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/washingtondc
Washington — FBI
www.fbi.gov

Counties and Cities Covered: Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax, Falls Church, Fauquier, Leesburg, Loudon, Manassas, Prince Wiliam, Quantico, Vienna, and Warrenton, South Africa

Attn: Fund Owner

View the payment document

Thanks and hope to read from you soon.

FBI Director Christopher A. Wray
Director Since August 2, 2017 - Present
Note: Do disregard any email you get from any impostors or offices claiming to be in Possession of your atm card, you are hereby advised only to be in contact with Mrs. Jacobs of the atm card center who is the rightful person to deal with in regards to your atm card payment and forward any emails you get from impostors to this office so we could act upon and commence investigation.

Anti-fraud resources: