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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: "Mrs Michael Baranabas" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <diplomat010@superposta.com>
Date: Sat, 11 Aug 2012 17:29:16 -0400
Subject: Good-day Beneficiary,..

Good-day Beneficiary,
 
 
Do re-confirm your information as your grant funds will be transferred via Western Union Money Transfer only. In accordance to the engagement agreement with the various Ministries involved which we were clearly warned not to tamper with your fund and no deduction for what ever reason, stating that it is a measure to safe-guard the fund of the beneficiaries from embezzlement and misdirection.
 
 
The Western Union here in Senegal has limited transfer rate because of International communities and Anti-Terrorist/Drug Law, so we are permitted to transfer $5000.00 daily until your total payment is completed but can still send more than that if you will provide to us more than one name.
 
 
In other words, We have today transferred your first instalment payment available for your pick up at any western union office nearest to you, but still "on hold" due to the unpaid endorsement & activation fee amount of $125.00,  you are suppose to pay before your daily transfer will be made available for you to pick up on daily basis. You will pick up the bellow installment at any western union office nearest to you with bellow information as soon as you send the needed $125.00 endorsement & activation fee. You can track your first instalment payment online at ttps://wumt.westernunion.com/asp/orderStatus.asp?country=global for confirmation.
 
The Payment MTCN is available below for your tracking and confirmation on our official Website:
MTCN#: 3090365458
Sender's First Name: AUGUSTINE
Sender's Last Name: EMEKA
Text Question: .....?
Answer: ......
Amount Programmed: $5000.00 USD
 
 
(You can track the MTCN: 3090365458 by dialing 1-800-325-6000 or https://wumt.westernunion.com/asp/orderStatus.asp?country=global )
 
We shall release to you, the Text Question and Text Answer upon the receipt of the official charges of $125.00 which will authenticate the legitimacy of your fund. Please do not bother to go for picking up the money without the payment of the required $125.00 endorsement & activation fee because the funds is still on hold and you can not pick up the money.
 
 
You have to send the needed money to us immediately with the below information to enable us release your first payment of $5,000.00. Send the money $125 with the given information below.
 
 
Receivers Name: ------------- Timothy Williams
Receiver City:--------------- Dakar Senegal
Text Question: ---------------- Colour
Text Answer: -------------------Green
Fee: -------------------- $125.00USD only
 
Regards,
Michael Baranabas,
Foreign Operations Manager
Western Union Office Senegal.

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