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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 Money Transfer Office <western_union_101@live.com>
Reply-To: westernunionfinancials@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Mon, 05 Sep 2011 17:41:58 +1000
Subject: PICK UP YOUR $5000.00USD FROM WESTERN UNION



Good Morning!

I write to inform you that we have already sent you
USD5000.00 dollars through Western union as we have
been given the mandate to transfer your full
compensation payment of USD 1.8MillionUSD via western
union by this government.

I called to give you the information through phone as
internet hackers were many but I cannot reach you
yesterday even this morning. So, I decided to email you
the MTCN and sender name with a scan copy of the
payment slip so that can pick up this USD5000.00 to
enable us send another USD5000.00 by tomorrow as you
knows we will be sending you only USD5000.00 per
day.Please pick up this information and run to any
western union in your country to pick up the USD5000.00
and send us email back to send you another payment
tomorrow.

Contact Manager Below
Western Union Outlet:
Mrs.Anita Daniel
Tell: :+234-802-138-1209
Email: westernunionfinancials@yahoo.com.hk

Call or email me once you picked up this USD5000.00 today.
Here is the western union information to pick up the
USD5000.00,

You have track your payment online www.westernunion.com

Note that your payment is Available for pick up by
your receiver name;s

Payment Information.

MTCN :_______________9003704389
Sender's Name:_________Julie Stahan
Text Question:__________Honest
Answer:_______________Trust
Amount Sent___________$5000.00USD
City:_________________Abuja
Country:_______________Nigeria

I am waiting for your Email once you pick up USD5000.00,

Mrs.Anita Daniel
Western Union Office,
Western Union® Money Transfer.

Anti-fraud resources: