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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: "WESTERN UNION" <notice@westernunion.com>
Reply-To: <wu_response@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Thu, 7 Jan 2010 11:34:37 -0500
Subject: Your Payment Via Western Union MTCN: 9394716086

Western Union Money Transfer@
Email:wu_response@yahoo.co.jp
Tell:+234-8080500309
Website: www.westernunion.com

WESTERN UNION INSTALMENT PAYMENT ONLY.

Attn:

We write to inform you officially that the Board of Director of the Debt Reconciliation Center In conjuction with the Federal Republic of Nigeria,Federal Ministry of Finance Nigeria, Western union Agent steven clayton with the United Bank for Africa has approved the payment sum of $500,000,00(FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATE DOLLARS) as a DEPT RECONCILIATION PAYMENT, for your funds with FedEx Courier Company for payment to you as the Beneficiary and owner of the amount $500,000.00usd.

After the Law Enforcement judgement between the FedEx Courier and the United Bank for Africa manegement, The meeting held on the 30th of November 2008,with the aformentioned office and banks, the Concluded arrangement has appointed our office to pay your lost payment through western union electronic system for your easy pickup and to avoid further unforeseen delay that could make your fund not to get to you in a timely manner. The Management of the FedEx courier Branch here in West Africa have submitted your name, city and country information’s to our office for endorsement & daily activation of your payment which has been programmed to be transfered under instalment at rate of $5,500 daily as Western Union laws here does not allow transferring funds above $5,500 at once from this country to another, but will be sending under instalment of $5,500 daily till the amount of usd$500.000.00 is completely paid to you and you alone as the owner of the stated amount. In other words. We have today transferred your fi


Payment information
Senders First Name: Carlos Israel
Senders last Name: Ibarra Martinez
MTCN: 9394716086 (Track the mtcn with the 1-800-325-6000 )
Text Question: Sport?
Answer: Golf
Amount Programmed: $5,500


The endorsement & daily activation file fee of $150 will be sending to our office here in care to ............ through western union money transfer nearest to you:

OUR RECEIVER'S INFORMATION FOR YOUR DAILY ACTIVATION FILE FEE

Receivers Name: John Clayton.
City & Country: Abuja,Nigeria
Amount: $150
Text Question: Faith
Answer: In God.

As soon as you send the fee, send us the transfer Mtcn to help us proceed with immediate transfer release of your instalment payment.
Notice: This payment was approved by the federal ministry of finances Abuja, Nigeria to the above beneficiary name only.

We anticipate your kind co-operation.

Thanks For Using Western Union Office.

Sincerely Regards,
Mr. Steven Njama.
Tell:+234-8080500309
Payment Department Western Union Office

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