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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: <paymentcentremailbox@rediffmail.com>
Date: Fri, 30 Oct 2009 16:28:38 +0100
Subject: From Western Union office ( Call the office line Urgent)

Welcome to Western Union Send Money Worldwide
 
Attention: Beneficiary
 
The INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND contacted us for your compensation of $950.000.00 USD directed in cash credited to file KTU/6523118308 at the owner of this email address a couple of hours ago due to your allocated security code. We are unable to complete a transfer directed at an email address, so we require some more information  in order to complete this transfer. FULL NAME: FULL CONTACT ADDRESS: MOBILE PHONE NUMBER;   AND AGE:
 
In order to resolve this problem for your payment,please email via Western Union Solicitors Fund verification Department; E-mail (paymentcentremailbox@rediffmail.com) As soon as this information is received,and you have complied with the requirements  payment of the western union Allocated security Access code charges $285USD, payment will be made to your nominated bank account or at the counter directly from your Western Union loccation centre.The charge is required to activate your Payment File Pin Code to enable it be Enlisted in the System for immediate transfer. International Monetary Fund (IMF) that mandated the fund payment did not pay the fee, because it is required to be beared by the fund beneficiary, since every other charge had been waived before the payment will be effected.
 
NOTE; this payment was directed to be made available in your name and you are only required the payment of the $285 as to enable confirmation and immediate payment of the approved fund of US$950,000.00  in your favor. Note that the administrative and logistic fee is the only charge entailed in the fund payment. Once it is settled by the fund beneficiary the payment will be made according to his directive. 
That this is directly from the Management of Western Union Money Transfer United Kingdom Head Office and our Motto is To Serve You Better.Contact us on ourwebsite on www.westernunion.com and view the status of your payment in our system which cannot redeem by you until the above payment send to the agent name here COSMOS UYA ."www.westernunion.com"
 
2. Click tracking and put in your MTCN number: 9260700270, and put in the SENDER FIRST NAME: (Mike), SENDER LAST NAME: (Madueke) on following the above instruction, you will see the status of your money
 
THE MANAGEMENT OF WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER, UNITED KINGDOM HEAD OFFICE. DISPATCHED THIS DAY.
 
Sincerely,
Cosmos  Uya. Direct Line +229-98244766
(paymentcentremailbox@rediffmail.com)
Western Union Payments.

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