joewein.net   joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days
  jwSpamSpy

Home
About Us
Spam
419/Nigeria
Fraud
Contact

"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 Money Transfer <cergil@ice.co.cr>
Reply-To: mrkentexman@sify.com
Date: Fri, 29 Oct 2010 16:39:22 -0700
Subject: I am writing to inform

I am writing to inform you that we have sent $5000 Usd via western un=
ion as we have been given the mandate to transfer your payment of the=
total compensation of $200,000.00 USD via western union by the Unite=
d Nation. You are required to send the below information for confirma=
tion;=20

NAME:=20
ADDRESS:=20
TEL NUMBER:=20
E-MAIL:=20

please call: +234-805 844 8843 for the Processing of your first payme=
nt of $5000 USD.=20

Sender=92s first name: Mark
Sender=92s last name: Lemon=20
Mtcn: 2365331646 =20

You are to track it with our website below to confirm the availabilit=
y of the above payment details.=20

https://wumt.westernunion.com/asp/orderstatus.asp?country=3Dglobal=
=20

To track it, click on the website above.=20
Copy and paste the mtcn ( 2365331646 )=20
Copy and paste the first name ( Mark )=20
Copy and paste the last name ( Lemon )=20

Mr. Ken Texman=20
Tel: +234-805 844 8843=20
Email: mrkentexman@sify.com

Anti-fraud resources: