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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.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "WESTERN UNION AGENT CUSTOMER CARE SERVICE" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <westernunionmoneytranferconsult@yahoo.fr>
Date: Mon, 13 Oct 2014 18:45:43 -0700
Subject: Contact Western Union Money Transfer for your fund in order to pick up your first US$5,000.00..

Attention to you personally:
 
Are you ready to pick up this US$5,000.00 sent to you today? We have concluded to effect your payment through Western Union Money Transfer, and to send $5,000.00 daily to you until the US$1,200,000.00 (ONE MILLION TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLAR ONLY) is completely transferred to you. So you are advice to contact the Western Union office Benin with below information;
 
Western Union Agent: Dr. Thomas Ashante.
E-mail: westernunionmoneytranferconsult@yahoo.fr
Tel: +229- 6876- 1985
 
Though, Dr. Thomas Ashante, sent you US$5,000.00 today, in your name and in my present, so contact him and tell him to give you the MTCN, Sender name with the question and answer to pick up the US$5,000.00 and then start transferring your total money to you as I directed them.
 
Finally, to avoid anything happening to the money, I deposited it with an insurance coverage
 
Furthermore you are expected to reconfirm them your full receiving information such as:
 
Your full name...........
Your full address.......
Your Phone number......
Your Identification...........
 
Thanks,
Yours Sincerely,
Mrs, Maureen Taiwo.

Anti-fraud resources: