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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: (sent from abused email account)
Date: 24 Oct 2008 10:18:55 -0000
Subject: WESTERN UNION TOGO CONTACTING YOU


                                                
                                                      LOME TOGO


Dear Friend,

THIS IS NOT A PROPER WAY OF DISCLOSING A MATTER OF SUCH IMPORTANCE TO YOU, BUT PLEASE BEAR WITH ME AS IT MIGHT BE OF INTEREST TO YOU. IT IS A BUSINESS PROPOSAL THAT WILL BENEFIT BOTH OF US.
I AM MR.OVADJE IGHO THE PRESENT APPOINTED ZONAL DIRECTOR TO THE WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER OF WEST AFRICA TOGO LOME  BRANCH. ON MY RESUMPTION TO DUTY I DISCOVERED THAT THERE WHERE SEVERAL TRANSFER MADE TO SEVERAL PEOPLE AND DUE TO ONE REASON OR THE OTHER THESE FUNDS WHERE NOT RECIEVED BY THE PRIVATE INDIVIDUALS IT WAS  TRANSFERED TO, THE SENDERS WHERE UNABLE TO SEND THE CONTROL DETAILS TO THE RECEIVER, AND MOST OF THE SENDERS TO OUR OWN RECORDS ARE DECIET. ON MY ASSUMPTION IN OFFICE AS THE NEW ZONAL DIRECTOR I FOUND OUT THAT THIS FUNDS ARE STILL PENDING.THIS BANK HAVE INSTRUCTED ME WITH THE LEGAL AUTHOURITY AND THE POWER CONFIRM ON ME AS THE NEW ZONAL MANAGER OF THE WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER TO EFFECT ALL THE PAYMENT'S OF THIS FUND'S TO THE APROPRATE PERSONS, WITHIN THE NEXT 24HOURS FROM NOW TO THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY HIS UGLY SITUATION AND WHICH YOU ARE AMONG THE FEW LUCKY OTHERS.
THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF MONEY NOW SHOWING IN OUR COMPUTER SYSTEM IS CLOSED TO BE ABOUT FOUR HUNDRED AND FIFTY FOUR THOUSAND U.S.DOLLAS (454,000 USD) AND RIGHT NOW THE BANK AUTHOURITY AND OUR MAIN HEAD QUARTER OFFICE IN AMERICA NEW YORK WILL BE DIALOGUEING ON HOW TO REMIT ALL THIS FUND'S BACK BEFORE THE PEROID OF SEVEN DAYS FROM NOW. I HAVE FOUND A WAY TO GET THIS MONEY TO YOU IF YOU RESPOND THAT THERE WILL BE NO PROBLEM. ALL WE NEED TO DO IS TO GET YOU AS THE NEW RECEIVER AND I WILL ACTIVATE THE TRANSFER AND GET TO YOU WITH THE NEW CONTROL DETAILS, BUT AFTER THE SUCCESSFUL TRANSFER WE WILL SHARE THE FUND. I DONT MIND TO SHARE THE FUNDS  70/30 FOR YOUR ASSITANCE AT THE END OF THE TRANSACTION IN AS MUCH THAT YOU WILL GIVE ME YOUR BEST IN MAKING THIS DREAM OF MINE A REALITY.
TRANSFER PROCEDURES (1)  THE CONTROL NUMBER'S WHICH WILL GIVE YOU THE RIGHT TO PICKUP THISFUNDS IN ANY OF OUR OFFICE IN YOUR COUNTRY MUST BE ACTIVATED.(2)  NAME TO AFFECT THE TRANSFER PROCEEDS.(3)COUNTRY / TOWN AND CITY. I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO YOUR TOTAL CO-OPERATION IN THIS COMMITTMENT, THANKS AND MAY GOD BLESS YOU.    BEST REGARDS,MR.OVADJE IGHO(ZONAL MANAGER WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER TOGO WESTAFRICA ,NO  101 GEORGE COMPLEX  LOME TOGO ) TEL.+233247945553

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