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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: <funds_departmentse@administrativos.com>
Date: Sat, 5 Jun 2010 20:50:54 +0200
Subject: Western Union Instalmental Payment

WESTERN UNION?SEND MONEY WORLDWIDE
(c) 2009 MICROWESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER?
INSTALMENTAL PAYMENT OFFICE
Website: www.westernunion.com
Email: western_union_money_transfer@wsternunionmoney.com
Tel/Fax: +234-1-8277475

Attn: Beneficiary,

We write to inform you officially that the Board of Director of the Debt Reconciliation Center, In-conjunction with the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Federal Ministry of Finance Nigeria, Western union Agent Akpakpa with the Uk Lottery Organization has approved the payment sum of $1.5 Million(One Million Five hundred thousand united states dollars) as a Dept Reconciliation Payments, for your Winning funds with Compensation Head office, deposited by the Uk Lottery Organization for payment to you as the Winning owner/ Beneficiary of the amount $1.5,000.000.00

After the Law Enforcement judgment between the Uk Lottery Organization Agent Mr. Goldman Smith and Compensation finance head office, The meeting was held on the 29th of February 2010, with the aforementioned office and banks, The Concluded arrangement was appointed at our office (Western Union Money Transfer) to pay your unpaid Winning fund through western union electronic system for your easy pickup and to avoid further unforeseen delay that could make your fund not to get to you in a timely manner.

The Management of the Uk Lottery Organization Head Branch here in West Africa have submitted your name, city and country information's to our office for endorsement & daily activation of your payment which has been programmed to be transferred under installment at rate of $10,000 daily as Western Union laws here does not allow transferring funds above $10,000 at once from this country to another, but will be sending under installment t of $10,000 daily till the amount is completely paid. We have today transferred your first installment payment available for your pickup at any western union office nearest to you, but still on hold due to the unpaid endorsement & daily activation file fee amount of $285.00 you supposed to pay before your daily transfer will be made available to you daily.

The information are below:
Payment information:
MTCN=5155799503
Sender First Name =Madou
Sender Second name =Traore

Track your payment on the website: www.westernunion.com

Reconfirm your information as given below.
Receiver's Name:........
Receiver's address:..........
Receiver's Tel. Number :...........

TO AVOID ANY ATOM OF MISTAKE,YOU ARE ALSO REQUIRED TO RECONFIRM YOUR PAYMENT RECEIVER'S NAME AND ADDRESS TO AVOID ANY MISTAKE OF PAYMENT ACTIVATION DURING ACTIVATION PROCESS OF YOUR PAYMENT AS SOON AS THE DAILY ENDOURSEMENT CHARGES IS BEING ACKNOWLEDGE AND CONFIRMED OVER HERE IN OUR OFFICE.

SO WITHOUT WASTING MUCH TIME YOU ARE BEEN REQUIRED AND ADVISED TO SEND THE ENDORSEMENT & DAILY ACTIVATION FILE FEE OF $285 USD IN FAVOUR OF OUR ACCOUNT OFFICER MR MICHAEL GOODLUCK VIA OUR PROCESS WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER NEAREST TO YOU SO IT WILL ENABLE US ISSUE TO YOU THE TEXT QUESTION AND ANSWER SO THAT YOU CAN PICK UP THE AMOUNT.

CASHIER/RECEIVER'S NAME: MICHAEL GOODLUCK
CITY & COUNTRY:LAGOS NIGERIA
AMOUNT TO BE SENT:$285 USD
TEST QUESTION:IN GOD
ANSWER:WE TRUST

ONCE YOU MAKE THE PAYMENT,YOU ARE ADVISED AND REQUIRED TO SEND TO US THE MTCN MONEY TRANSFER CONTROL NUMBER AND ALSO EMAIL A SCANNED COPY OF THE TRANSFER SLIP/RECEIPT FOR VERIFICATION AND DOCUMENTATION PURPOSES.

We anticipate your kind co-operation.
Thanks For Using Western Union Office
Sincerely Regards,
Mr Philips Albert
Payment Department


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