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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" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <habibbankplatinum@yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 30 Oct 2013 04:14:08 -0300
Subject: Attn: Valued Customer

Western Union®
Welcome to Western Union
Western Union Money Transfer
Lagos Nigeria, Ikoyi Branch
No/51 Awolowo Road Ikoyi Lagos
 
 
Attn: Valued Customer,
 
The Federal Ministry of Finance (FMF) has signed and released compensation payment to all recent scam victims and your name was found in the scam victim's list, after the release an executive emergency meeting held with the chairman and board members of Western Union Agency for this payment. At the end of the meeting, the head of international remittance was mandated to set up Western union account in your name where the overall inheritance of US$1,500,000.00 will be paid into your account and as well release MTCN to pick up the first installment of $5000.00.
 
 
Meanwhile, the agreement which was signed between the ministry and the western union has it that all beneficiaries should pay actvation fee of $105.00  on their part as indication that they are ready and willing to receive their entitlement. This is the reason for this notification, therefore, you advised to contact our cashier unit in reference to this order on wunion5604@yahoo.com contact person is Mr. Duck Ahmad, he will instruct you on how to send the commitment charges to enable him activate the MTCN to pick up your first installment of US$5000.00.the agreement is that $5,000.00 will be send to you on daily basis so make sure you contact him today and ask him to give you the information to send the activation charges to enable him release your payment to you,
 
And also don't forget to submit to him the following information to avoid mistake ]
 
your receiver name___________________
Receiver’s address___________________
Telephone numbers __________________
Current city__________________________
State of Origin_________________________
 
 
THANKS & CONGRATULATIONS!
Mr.Brown .H chi
Western Union Department

Anti-fraud resources: