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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: "Westernunion Transfer" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <western_unionoutlet1@w.cn>
Date: Thu, 7 Apr 2011 15:12:59 +0100
Subject: Transfer !!!

I write to inform you that we have transferred USD$100,000 dollars.
I called to give you the information through
phone but we could not reach you even this
morning.So,I decided to email you the
MTCN and sender name so that you can pick
start cashing your money in USD5000.00 daily installment with the same
MTCN and sender's name which will be valid for
20 days until you cash the full $100,000.00usd
as it automatically activates for use for 20 days
after the first reactivation.

The money is available for pick up which was deposited
for transfer to you by one MR Bernard Harry from
BLACKBERRY MOBILE LOTTERY. The money is available
for pick up by receiver(you) but when you track it, it
will display PICKED UP due to the fact that it has been
deactivated from our head office for security reason
because it has stayed too long in the air as we have been trying
to reach you on the phone for some days now but it was not reachable,
so it was blocked. therefore you can not cash it out
in any western union office due to its restriction
from our head office,which was a security measure
because the money has been in the air for three days
now and maybe in danger, hence the mtcn has to be
reactivated to enable you cash out the money
in any western union office in your area, the
reactivation of the MTCN will cost you a token of $85,
once this is paid, our head office will release the fund on
hold to enable you cash it.To be sure of this please
log on to www.westernunion.com and click on track to
and enter the sender's info and mtcn below.

Sender's Fist name: Klaus
Sender's Last Name: Jurzick
MTCN: 8305008612
Question: Who Is Great
Answer: God
Amount: $5000.00USD
Total Amount To be cashed:$100,000usd

With due respect please get back to me urgently after
tracking the money online so i can instruct you on how
to send the $85 to us for the reactivation of the MTCN.
it may interest you to know that the $85 activation
fee you are asked to pay is a refundable fee which will be
accredited to your first payment of $5000, instead of
receiving $5000 at first, you will receive $5085, the
fee is only needed to activate the MTCN, so therefore,
the fee is lost but will be refunded back to you.

Please reconfirm the following

1.Mode of identification:
2.Direct mobile number:

Call:+2348052886069 for more information

Thanks
Best Regards
Mr.Phoenix Mcferrin.
western union Office,
NIGERIA OFFICE.
Western Union® Money Transfer

Anti-fraud resources: