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: "Richard Junior" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <westernunion0087@sify.com>
Date: Fri, 16 Apr 2010 01:49:27 -1200
Subject: contact Western union Agent to pick up this $7000 today


Dear Friend
Are you ready to pick up this $7,000.00 sent today?

We have concluded to effect your payment through western union$7,000.00 daily
until the $1.500.000.00 is completely transfered. Meanwhile, Mrs Tom Isea has western union $7,000.00 in your name today. So contact Western union Agent to
pick up this $7000 now: Contact person: you can call him immediately.
Dr. Edward Hilary
TEL: +229-93-15-88-02
E-mail: info.(westernunion0087@sify.com)
Ask him to give you the mtcn, sender name, question and answer to pick
the $7,000.00. Also you should send to him your informations
YOUR FULL NAME:__________
YOUR ADDRESS:____________
YOUR DIRECT PHONE NUMBER

Best Regards,
Dr.Kadama Tako.


Anti-fraud resources: