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 OFFICE" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <atmresponse2009@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Fri, 4 Jul 2014 23:03:01 +0700
Subject: PAYMENT RECONCILIATION DEPARTMENT

TRANSACTION DIRECTOR.
PAYMENT RECONCILIATION DEPARTMENT.
TEL:+234-70-6490-6069
 
 
Attention: Dear Customer,
 
 
 
Your Urgency is highly Needed Immediately after reading this mail.
 
 
We write to inform you officially that the Board of Director of the Debt Reconciliation Center,Inconjuction with the Federal Republic of Nigeria,Federal Ministry of Finance Nigeria, Western union Agent Akpakpa with the UK LOTTERY ORGANIZATION has approved the payment sum of $500,000,00(FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS) as a DEPT RECONCILIATION PAYMENT, for your Winning funds with this management, deposited by the Uk Lottery Organisation for payment to you as the Winning owner/Beneficiary of the amount $500,000.00usd.
 
 
After the Law Enforcement judgement between the UK LOTTERY ORGANIZATION AND THE ATM PAYMENT CENTRE ALSO the Fedex Couriers  head office, The meeting held on the 1st of June 2014,with the aformentioned office and banks, the Concluded arrangement has appointed the office of the (Western Union Money Transfer) to pay your unpaid Winning fund through western union electronic system for your easy pickup and to avoid further unforeseen delay that could make your fund not to get to you.
 
 
The Management of the UK LOTTERY ORGANISATION HEAD OFFICE BRANCH here in West Africa have submitted your name, city and country information’s to the office of the Western Union for the endorsement & daily activation of your payment which has been programmed to be transfered under instalment at rate of $4,900 daily as Western Union laws here does not allow transferring funds above $5000 at once from this country to another, but will be sending under instalment of $4,900 daily till the amount is completely paid to you as the benefactor.
 
 
Below you will have to file out your Receivers Informations which you will be using to get the fund from the Western Union.We will like you to confirm us the receivers name which will direct the payment to you just for security purpose to avoid any loss of fund.
 
 
Your Receivers Name:
Receivers Address:
Direct Cell Number:
 
 
In other words. We have today transferred your first instalment payment available for your pickup at any western union office nearest to you, but still on hold due to the unpaid endorsement & daily activation file fee amount of $290.00,you supposed to pay before your daily transfer will be made available to you daily.
 
 
You will pickup the below installment at any western union office nearest to you with bellow information's as soon as you send the $290 endorsement & daily activation file fee. You are to track your first instalment payment online at www.westernunion.com OR Call Western Union tracking number 1-800-325-6000 to check availabily of  fund for your verification purpose.
 
 
Payment information
Sender’s First Name.IFA
Sender’s Last Name.GBEMI
MTCN:  0691711481
Question: WHAT COLOR
Answer: GREEN
Amount Programmed: $4,900
To Track your payment available online, CLICK THE LINK OR YOUR COPY & PASTE ON YOUR BROWSER TO SEE YOUR PAYMENT AVAILABLE:http://www.wu.com/content/wucom/Countries/en_BJ/track-transfer-result.html?transactionStatus=AVAILABLE&progressIndicator=3&statusMessage=Your%20money%20transfer%27s%20ready%20to%20be%20picked%20up%20at%20any%20Western%20Union%20agent%20location
 
 
 
The endorsement & daily activation file fee of $290 will be sending to our office here in the care Mr.Mark Soji through WESTERN UNION OR MONEYGRAM nearest to you:
 
 
Received by: Mark Soji.
City & Country: 21 airport road.,abuja,Nigeria
Amount: $290
Text Question: IFA.
Answer: IFA.
MTCN/Reference Numbers:
 
 
As soon as you make the activation fee kindly send us the MTCN/reference Numbers to help us proceed with immediate transfer and release of your installment payment.
Once your payment is confirmed, we shall proceed with the activation of your payment for available pickup in your country/Address.
 
 
Notice: This payment was approved by the federal ministry of finances Abuja, Nigeria to the above beneficiary name only.
We anticipate your kind co-operation.
 
 
Thanks For Using Western Union Office.
 
 
Sincerely Regards,
MR.IFA GBEMI
TRANSACTION DIRECTOR.
PAYMENT RECONCILLIATION DEPARTMENT.
TEL:+1-202-5999-674.

Anti-fraud resources: