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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 <johnwest05@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: westernuion0@w.cn
Date: Fri, 22 Apr 2011 21:12:39 +0900 (KST)
Subject: PAYMENT MTCN $5000 DETAILS..........



   

Western Union
Payments







FROM OFFICE OF THE WESTERN UNION MONEY
TRANSFER.
COTONOU BENIN REPUBLIC/ADDRESS 455 AGBOKOU,ANKPA
ROADOPPOSITE TUNDE MOTORS
COTONOU.
WEBSITE.www.westernunion.com  http://site.www.westernunion
.com/
 
ATTENTION ;BENEFICIARY:
 
INFORMATION REACHING US FROM OUR CORPORATE
HEADQUARTERS NOW, STATES THAT YOU ONLY HAVE 48HOURS TO EFFECT PAYMENT FOR THE
ACTIVATION OF YOUR MTCN TO ENABLE YOU CASH UP YOUR FIRST $5,000:00 FROM YOUR
TOTAL SUM OF $1.500.000.000 USD SINCE YOU ARE FINDING IT DIFFICULT TO MAKE THIS
PAYMENT WE HAVE DECIDED THAT YOU ARE TO GO AHEAD AND PAY $48.00 FOR THE
ACTIVATION FEE SINCE YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO COME UP WITH THE REQUIRED SUM, TIME IS
OF THE ESSENCE HERE AS YOU KNOW EASTER HOLIDAY IS AROUND THE CORNER.
 
YOU
ARE TO PAY THE $48.00 TODAY FOR THE ACTIVATION FEE; WE WILL ACTIVATE YOUR MTCN
UPON RECEIPT OF THIS PAYMENT AND EMAIL YOUR FIRST $5000.00 TODAY AS
WELL,
 
BE INFORMED THAT YOU WILL HAVE TO PAY THE BALANCE SUM OF YOUR
ACTIVATION UPON CASHING UP OF YOUR FIRST 5,000:00 USD, ALSO I AM USING THIS
MEDIUM TO INFORM YOU THAT FAILURE TO PAY THE BALANCE SUM WILL LEAVE US WITH NO
OPTION BUT TO DEACTIVATE YOUR MTCN OF WHICH YOU WILL AND CAN NEVER CASH UP THE
BALANCE SUM; I WANT YOU TO SEND THE RENEWING AND TRANSFER FEE WITH THE
INFORMATION BELLOW.
 
here is the info.
 
RECEIVER NAME::::::IGBANUGO
LAWRENCE.
COUNTRY::::::::BENIN
REPUBLIC.
CITY::::::::PORTO-NOVO.
QUESTION::::::::HOW
LONG?
ANSWER::::::::SOON.
AMOUNT::::::::$48.00

GET BACK TO US AFTER THE
PAYMENT:

MTCN NUMBERN..........
YOUR SENDER
NAME..........
YOUR SENDER TELEPHONE NUMBER...
YOUR SENDER
CITY..........


 
 REGARDS


MR.DANIEL
UDEALOR.
FORIGN
OPERATION MANAGER 
WESTERN
UNION OFFICE BENIN REPUBLIC,

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