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 <geonali1051@verizon.net>
Reply-To: westernunion34@sify.com
Date: Thu, 11 Mar 2010 08:44:51 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Attention Beneficiary.







Western Union®
Welcome to Western Union
Send Money Worldwide
Send Money Worldwide
WESTERN UNION  HEAD OFFICE DEPARTMENT Union
REPUBLIC OF BENIN.
FOREGN CONTRACTOR PAYMENT OFFICE
TELEPHONE +229-98-33-02-82
WEB SITE.www.westernunion.com  http://site.www.westernunion.com/
 
 
 Attention Beneficiary.
 
I am written to know if you are still with your promise about sending the required fee of $75.00usd, Be inform that it is your wish to comply by responding with the required fee or you losse your total sums to this Man who said he was sent by you to claim the Payment that you have heart attack! and disable to work,
 
Please should take note of that and there should be no mistakes as you have to make sure that you MUST send this $75 today or tomorrow or you losse your total sums to this Man and you will not raise any blame on this office,  And  you are advice to reconfirm your  Receive's Name to avoid wrong payment
 
Receive's  Name:_____________ 
Street Address :____________
Town/City/Country :_________
Full Postcode:___________
Telephone Number:_________
 
Below is the information to send the $75.00 today through Western Union money transfer to make it faster and easier
 
Receiver:::::::::::Mr. Okolo Samuel 
City::::::::::::::Cotonou
Country::::::::::Benin Republic
Questions:::::::How Long
Answer:::::::::Tow Days
Amount::::::::$75.00
Sender's Name:
M.T.C.N::::::
 
So i think it will be more better if you can proceed remitt the fee today because we can not waist any time in sending your fund tomorrow morning,
 
Thanks and remain bless.
Your Sincerely,
Regards,
Dr Johnson Abe Manager Of  Western union department Benin Republic;


Western Union
Welcome to Western Union
Send Money Worldwide.+229 98098524
Consumers have looked to Western Union to help them stay connected to loved ones around the world for more than 150 years. We are a global leader in money transfer services, offering the ability to send money to more than 245,000 Western Union Agent locations in over 200 countries and territories. Count on Western Union to transfer money, send bill payments, and purchase money orders and prepaid services
 

Anti-fraud resources: