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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: "MR. JOHN MAXWELL" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <jomaxwell437@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 10 Oct 2019 11:10:53 -0700
Subject: ATM MASTER CARD PAYMENT

ATM MASTER CARD PAYMENT

THE ABOVE SUBJECT MATTER REFERS.

AFTER EXTENSIVE CLOSE DOOR MEETING WITH THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND OTHER STAKE HOLDERS IN THE GOVERNMENT INCLUDING SUBCOMMITTEES.

IT WAS RESOLVED AND AGREED UPON THAT YOUR FUND WOULD BE RELEASED ON A SPECIAL METHOD OF PAYMENT, BY TAG NAME READS ATM MASTER CARD. THIS METHOD OF PAYMENT IS DESIGNED BY THE GOVERNMENT TO AVERT FRAUD PERPETRATION OR STOPAGE OF FUND BY SOME AGENCIES. EITHER THROUGH ANTI TERRORIST CERTIFICATE OR OTHER CERTIFICATES. THIS ATM MASTER CARD WOULD BE ISSUED TO YOU WITHOUT FURTHER DELAY.

THIS OFFICE HAS BEEN MANDATED TO TAKE CHARGE OF THE ISSUANCE OF THE ATM MASTER CARD AND YOUR PAYMENT FILE SHOULD BE PASSED TO MY DESK FOR CLARIFICATION. UPON CERTIFICATION THAT YOUR PAYMENT FILE IS OK, THIS OFFICE WILL DIRECT YOU ON HOW TO RECEIVE YOUR OVER DUE FUND VIA ATM MASTER CARD.

IN THE LIGHT OF THIS AFOREMENTIONED, YOU ARE REQUIRED TO FURNISH THIS OFFICE WITH THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION:

YOUR NAME:

ADDRESS:

NEXT OF KIN NAME AND YOUR DATE OF BIRTH:

YOUR TELEPHONE NUMBER

THE ATM MASTER CARD WOULD BE ISSUED IN YOUR FAVOUR, AND WITH THE CREDIT CARD NUMBER ALL YOUR INFORMATION WILL BE INSERTED INTO THE CARD. UPON COMPLETION OF THE ISSUANCE OF THE ATM MASTER CARD, IT WOULD BE SEND TO YOU VIA COURIER TO YOUR ADDRESS.

REPLY TO THIS EMAIL:

THANKS,

YOURS FAITHFULLY,

MR JOHN MAXWELL
PAYMENT CORDINATOR

Anti-fraud resources: