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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.

 

 

Please note about this email:

Fraud email example:

From: "WESTERN UNION" <promo@westernunionpromo.org>
Date: Fri, 29 Jul 2005 18:46:27 +0000
Subject: WESTERN UNION INTERNATIONAL PROMO AWARD

 
WESTERN UNION INTERNATIONAL PROMO AWARD

DEAR WESTERN UNION CUSTOMER,

We wish to notify you of the result of the Western Union -MTCN-
International promotion for this year 2005.

www.westernunion.com/info/promotions.asp?country=US

Please CLICK ON LINK confirm if your name and address has been
published for payment.

Your e-mail address was attached to (MTCN) number: 5613464xxx with
Serial (MTCN) which consequently permitted a sweepstake draw in this
category.

Therefore you have been approved for a sum payment Payable by -FINACORP
GROUP INTERNATIONAL- credited in the United-kingdom.

Due to the mix up of some numbers and email addresses, we ask that you
keep all information confidential until your claim has been processed
and your money remitted to your nominated address or bank.

THIS IS PART OF OUR SECURITY PROTOCOLS TO AVOID UNWARRANTED ABUSE OF
THIS PROGRAM BY SOME UN-KNOWN PARTICIPANTS.

Note: You where selected through our computer ballot system drawn from
over 60,000 western union money transactions and 40,000,000 individual
email addresses from our offices all over the world, online of which
five where selected at random as winners of this promotion.

This promotion program takes place once every three years and this year
promotion was sponsored for the foundation of UNITED NATIONS GLOBAL
EMANCIPATION FOR WORLD PEACE
To obtain your claim, please contact:


ATTENTION: All winnings must be processed and claimed not later than
10th of august 2005. After this date all unclaimed funds will be POSTED to
the United Nation Charity Organization.
Please note: To avoid unnecessary delays and complications, remember to
always quote your -Reference and Batch- numbers in all your
correspondence with our fudicial agent and the legal representative.

PLEASE SEND IN YOUR (1) NAME (2) RESIDENTIAL ADDRESS (3) SCANNED
PHOTOGRAPH (4) OCCUPATION (5) VALID PHONE NUMBER AND EMAIL ADDRESS FOR
VERIFICATION VIA EMAIL



Email: INFO@WESTERNUNIONPROMO.ORG
Furthermore, should there be any change of address or information about
you, do inform the legal representative as soon as possible to avoid
disqualification.

Congratulations once again from all the members of our staff and thank
you for being part of this program and publications.

Yours sincerely,

WESTERN UNION INTERNATIONAL
The National Lottery,
Tolpits Lane,
Watford WD1 8RN.
London,
England.

Anti-fraud resources: